The Florida man cleared two years ago of murdering unarmed US teenager Trayvon Martin in a case that fuelled a national debate about racism appeared in court today after being arrested for aggravated assault.
George Zimmerman, who has had a number of run-ins with the law since his controversial acquittal for the killing of Martin in 2013, was detained late yesterday, a statement from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office said.
The 31-year-old was held at a correctional facility before appearing in front of Florida Circuit Judge John Galluzzo today.
Galluzzo set bail at USD 5,000, ordering Zimmerman to surrender any firearms in his possession while restricting his travel, reports said.
A new court hearing was set for February 17.
Details of the incident leading to the arrest were not immediately available.
However, US media reports citing Zimmerman's lawyer, Don West, said the latest brush with the law stemmed from an incident involving his girlfriend earlier this week.
The Orlando Sentinel newspaper said on its website Zimmerman allegedly threw a wine bottle at his partner.
Last September, Zimmerman was back in the headlines after a Florida man called emergency services alleging the burly former neighbourhood watch volunteer had threatened to kill him in a road-rage altercation.
However, the man declined to press charges over the incident.
