MADISON, Wis. -- Badgers football running back Booker Stanley was arrested early Wednesday morning on charges of beating and choking a girlfriend in his home, police said.

Authorities said that Stanley, 22, attacked a 20-year-old woman at his University Avenue apartment.

Police said that someone in the apartment building called authorities when he heard the woman scream at about 3:30 a.m. The victim told authorities that Stanley had choked her three times, WISC-TV reported.

"Fortunately for her and for police, a third party that wished to remain anonymous called and heard a female yelling in pain and describing the fact that she was saying, 'Let go of my neck,'" said Madison police officer Mike Hanson. "The indications from the report show that she felt threatened for her life, or that she was going to be seriously injured. And fortunately, the officers responded when they did."

Stanley was arrested and tentatively charged with reckless endangering safety, false imprisonment, and two counts of battery and intimidation of a victim.

Because of his arrest, Stanley is automatically suspended from the football team, which is getting ready to play in the Capitol One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 2.

With an investigation proceeding, Badger athletic officials said that they suspended Stanley for violating the University of Wisconsin's Student-Athlete Discipline Policy, according to a university Athletics Department press release.

The school's statement said that Stanley -- who's the Badgers' top returning rusher -- is suspended from practice and competition until any charges have been addressed by the school and legal system.

He has the option to appeal the suspension, according to university officials.

This isn't Stanley's first brush with the law.

He was arrested last May after getting into a fight at the Mifflin Street Block party, where he was accused of beating up another party go-er. In that incident, Stanley was charged with battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and he pleaded not guilty to the multiple charges, WISC-TV reported.

Stanley had been scheduled to be in court on Wednesday for a plea deal on those misdemeanor charges

Stanley's attorney Charlie Giesen said that the Badgers player would have been referred to a first offenders program and the charges would be dismissed if he successfully completed the program.

That court appearance has been adjourned and Giesen said that the deal is up in the air pending any charges that could be filed against him stemming from this latest incident, WISC-TV reported.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.