COSTA MESA – A mixed-martial artist who has a history of run-ins with law enforcement was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of assaulting a police officer – for spitting in the officer’s face – assault and battery, and public intoxication, authorities said.

Jason “Mayhem” Miller, 35, of Mission Viejo, who returned to the ring in May after a four-year retirement from professional fighting, was at Saddle Ranch Chop House in Costa Mesa’s Triangle Square shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday when he got into an argument with two women, one of whom he grabbed and tried to punch before security “took him down and handcuffed him,” said Sgt. Dan Miles of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

“While being detained, he spit on one of the officers,” Miles said, “which is disgusting.”

One of the women slapped Miller, prompting him to grab her and try to punch her, Miles said.

Miller was taken to a local hospital because of injuries to his face apparently suffered when the security guards brought him to the floor. One of the security guards also went to the hospital for a possible sprained wrist, Miles said.

Miller later was taken to jail, where he was being held Sunday afternoon.

Miller was a professional fighter from 2001 to 2012, and also hosted a television show called “Bully Beatdown” on MTV. He lost his first professional fight in four years in May.

Miller is not new to trouble.

He was arrested in Irvine in February on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Miller is also accused of throwing a tile on Oct. 16 at an Orange County sheriff’s deputy responding to his Mission Viejo home after reports of a disturbance, as well as threatening officials with a large fire extinguisher and metal pole. He pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a weapon on a peace officer.

In October 2014 Miller barricaded himself inside his home in Mission Viejo for more than four hours after sheriff’s deputies tried to detain him for an outstanding domestic violence arrest warrant. He live-tweeted the incident.

In August 2012, he was arrested after he was found naked inside Mission Hills Church on Alicia Parkway, though the Orange County District Attorney’s Office later dismissed the case.

Contact the writer: 714-796-6979 or chaire@ocregister.com