Singer Chris Brown under investigation in alleged assault

R&B singer Chris Brown, one of the biggest-selling performers in pop music, was booked tonight in Los Angeles on charges stemming from an alleged assault on his girlfriend, pop singer Rihanna, according to police and other sources familiar with the investigation.

An official police statement did not name Rihanna, but said the woman in the incident “suffered visible injuries.”

Details of what took place between the two were sketchy, but authorities and sources said that about 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Brown and a woman got into an argument in a rented Lamborghini on North June Street in Hancock Park. Brown stopped the car, the two got out, and the argument escalated. A witness called 911, but police said Brown was gone by the time officers arrived at the scene. The woman identified Brown as her assailant.

Authorities did not describe her injuries or whether she was treated for them.

The sources said the woman was Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

Brown was booked on a charge of making criminal threats, and police said he remained under investigation for felony charges of domestic violence. “The exact charge was criminal threats and it is going to be investigated as a criminal threats investigation,” said Police Sgt. Bridget Pickett, who spoke to reporters at the Wilshire Division police station, where Brown was booked. “There may be domestic violence charges added later, but that will be up to the district attorney’s office.”

Pickett defined a criminal threat as “a threat that is made to a person with the likelihood that it may occur.” She said that Brown arrived at the police station about 6:30 p.m. dressed in a T-shirt and jeans. “He was very professional,” she said. Brown was joined at the station by his lawyer, Mark Geragos, and Geragos’ investigator, Scott Ross.

After posting $50,000 bail, Brown left the station before 9 p.m.

Both Brown and Rihanna had been scheduled to perform at the Grammy Awards, which began at 5 p.m. at Staples Center. Neither appeared, and Grammy officials issued a statement just before the show saying: "We have just been informed Rihanna will not be attending tonight’s 51st Grammy Awards. Rihanna will not be performing. We are sorry to see she is unable to join us this evening.”

A publicist for the Barbados-born star, who sold more digital song downloads than anyone else in 2008 with nearly 10 million tracks, said Sunday night: “Rihanna is well. Thank you for your concern and support.”

Her song “Disturbia,” which she’d been scheduled to perform at the ceremony, was the sixth best-selling digital track of the year. She was replaced by veteran soul singer Al Green, who was accompanied by country singer-guitarist Keith Urban.

Brown and Rihanna had appeared together Saturday night at producer Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy gala in Beverly Hills.

A spokesman for Brown’s record label did not respond to The Times’ request for comment. Brown finished 2008 as the fourth-best-selling artist in the digital realm, posting 6.8 million tracks sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

-- Andrew Blankstein, Randy Lewis, Ari Bloomekatz and Mitchell Landsberg

Photo: Singers Rihanna and Chris Brown perform at New York City's Madison Square Garden in December. Credit: Evan Agostini / Associated Press

Comments

[Marie]

Never heard of this guy, why is this news?? If she was hit, I feel bad for her and hope she gets away from this guy. But please stop giving this story so much space!!

[JRP]

This makes more sense to me now that I know Chris witnessed abuse as a boy. Even though he hated his step father and said publicly he would "never" hit a woman, it's NOT that easy. Almost EVERYONE who grew up around abuse says "it won't happen again," BUT IT DOES. There is a reason domestic abuse is a cycle through generations. Some people whose parents abused them REFUSE to have kids because they know they are high risk to become child abusers themselves.

How many people have "become their parents" after having kids? Most of us have something--not necessarily abuse, but something our parents did that we swore "never" to do with our kids. But without even thinking about it, when our kids do something we respond just like our parents did??

That's the problem with growing up around abuse. It's always in your subconscious. That DOESN'T MEAN a person like Chris Brown "has to be" an abuser. It DOES mean that he has some work to do to make sure he doesn't, and this is his wake up call. It takes HARD WORK and therapy to be able, in the heat of the moment (and no one can press your buttons like the person you're in a relationship with), to over ride the instinct of abuse.

I'm not saying Chris Brown should get off, or that he's completely a victim. But I think mandatory treatment and intensive counseling, especially given his age (19) and growing up witnessing abuse, is the best result for him. I am sad that a woman (Rihanna or not) had to get hurt for him to get help, but for sure he should KNOW NOW that it's not as easy as "saying" you won't repeat the past. You have to do hard work--actually PREPARE to NOT abuse.

Chris Brown can well afford the best counseling for as long as he needs it. I hope that in a year or 2, he is helping other young men in his situation by going on TV and saying it's not easy but there IS help for men who don't want to repeat what they saw growing up.

[chris brown fan]

Omg i cant belive what im reading i think chris brown wouldnt do that thats all i could say im in shock

[candace]

i love them both and personally im not sure if i believe alot of this. We hear things like this in the news and im not saying rihanna is a bad person but we dont know there personal life and what goes on, who they hang out with we really dont know.It could simply be all a misunderstanding and at the wrong place at the wrong time. Couples fight we dont know fersure if it resolved in physical violence.I love them both and i hate hollywood drama. Because honestly how many times has rumors or hollywood led us to belive crazy things? hmm? ALOT.
So until 100 percent proven i dont believe it.
love them both but lets get some hard facts. Not just an arguement heard.
brusies or whatever can be from anything.

[Maggie]

NO MATTER WHAT CHRIS BROWN DOES OR GOES THROUGH I WILL STILL BE A FAN OF HIS. HIM ASSAULTING RIHANNA WAS PROBABLY AN ACCIDENT AND HE PROBABLY LOST CONTROL OF HIS TEMPER!!!

[Marco]

The only thing more violent than an Ike Turner, is an Ike Turner wannabe who's in the closet.

[T]

Posted by: cammie | February 09, 2009 at 08:26 AM

Typical of today's Rap society, cocky-azz rapper who is prone to violence being spoon fed on money and attention.
They need to lock him up along with the others with a ZERO tolerance towards violence which is only glorified by the lyrics and culture of Rap for so many years.
------------------

To Cammie.... Chris Brown is not a Rapper. So your rant about Rappers has absolutely ZERO to do with anybody in this story.

If you're going to stereotype, at least get the target of your stereotypes CORRECT.

[destinee smith]

what i love chris brown and truley
i do not think that he did that for
what ever reason mayb she deserved it what
if she hit him first
she may have learnd her leason!!
if he n jail??
FREE MA HUBBI:] LOL!!!!!!!

[disgusted]

HIS CAREER IS OVER.

[Ashley]

I LOVE CHRIS BROWN

[tracey]

whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty" ? everyone is ready to prosecute him and we still dont know all of the details!

[yvette solange]

i hope rihanna stays far away from him.

[voice of reason]

WHAT HAPPENED TO INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY!!!!!!!!!
really no one has a cross to hang this young man to . It is really disturbing that there are so many narrow minded individuals in society. How is it that we can take a very small fraction of a story and run to town with it. Kinda reminds me of that game telephone that we played in "grade school" really people grow up. What if the shoe was one the other foot and you were the Chris Brown in the story. Would you really enjoy people taking half truths and possibly killing your career. And you guys act as if there is no such thing as forgiveness, if that's the case 90% of our entertainers are the scum of the earth. If that's the case 100% of society sucks, because we all have skeletons in our closets , the difference is that some peoples are more hidden than others. IF SOME OF YOU SENSELESS PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONCERNED OR OUTRAGED PRAY FOR HIM, BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL BE IN A SITUATION.

[andrew gower]

disturbia much ? chris brown is ugly any way he picks on girls

[nonofyourbuissness]

ok first of all mostly he is a good singer but for him to do this i just can't beleve it what kind of person does that for what money, fame, to dumb her "gently"? gosh im so sad

[SHANICE JFK MIDDLE]

i think this is crazy i knew it would not work with them i told all my friends that they are to oppisite for each other and stars dont work unless there like brad and angilena or jay z and beyonce ok so thats all i got to say
I LOVE U CHRIS BROWN U ARE THE BEST

[TriniGirl]

Hmmm, well I didn't even know he grew up seeing abuse. I did too! This kinda thing affects different pple in different ways. Some end up acting out when they get mad, others keep it in. I hope he gets some help to curb all of that anger. No matter who started it, violence should never be the result, cus in the end it never solves anything.

Look where that anger got him, in jail and embarrassed for life, or until we youths get older and forget him and this incident, cus we all got to deal with our own struggles in life.

Rihanna girl, I too am from the Caribbean, and I say, forget those American boys and concentrate on gettin that money! U already beautiful and famous, pray for clarity in life that's all I can say. Don't ever take that kind of treatment from anybody, even if ur crazy in love. It'll never be worth it! and don't take "Sorry" and candy either, that'll justify the behavior.

To all women out there, abuse is something that should never be taken lightly regardless of the situation ur in, anything is better than getting beat up on!

[XxDeep_WaterxX]

"Some of you are absolutely ridiculous..

"YOU HIT GIRLS, CHRIS, BUT I STILL LOVE YOU!!"
"YOU'RE SUCH A GREAT PERSON."

.. Yeah."

hahaaaa. that made me laugh.
i totally agree though.
I mean, I know all the facts aren't out yet.
But they all lean seriously towards Chris assaulting her.
And as for the "what if she attacked him first?" things...
have you looked at Rihanna?
she's tiny. i DOUBT that she was going to knock him out.
it's UNACCEPTABLE to hit a woman unless you're going to get a little bit more than a few scrapes and scratches.
so suck it.
anyways. I hope Rihanna is okay, and Chris gets what he deserves.
oh yeah, and he's a pop singer. he's not even "ghetto". whatever the heck that even means anymore.

[MissSanchez]

IT WASN'T RIHANNA!!!!in this article it said ASSAULT ((CHARGES)).that means some random person.if it was a girlfriend(rihanna),family member,or friend it would be called DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES...not assault---they lying about the "involving chris brown and rihanna" part...i hope he didn't hit any girl because i am a fan of his.i'm not his biggest or anywhere near that but i like him a lot.i hope everything is going to be okay for everyone and no one is talking about this in a couple months...

but i don't think he would hit anyone.
unless a chic hits you first EXTREMELY hard while youre was driving and made you almost crash.thats the only reason i can imagine ANYONE pulling over to argue.whoever the girl was.but seriously i cant imagine him doing anything like this.i just have to wait til details come out but i won't judge and everyone about to say i dont know them so stop talking about it shut up and i have freedom of speech....

[Tierra]

O WOW I AM REALLY REALLY SHOCKED..AND DISAPPOINTED WITH CHRISTOPHER..OMG I JUST CANT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING IM KIND OF SPEECHLESS & LOST WITH WORDS 2 SAY..UMM HOPE THINGS GET BETTER 4 HIM..& HE NEEDS 2 CONTROLL THAT TEMPER, I KNW HW IT CN B AT TIMES..CUZ I HAVE A TEMPER PROBLEM MYSELF..IM STILL GOIN 2 SUPPORT HIM..GOTS LOVE 4 U MR. BROWN(WINK) LOVE--> {BLACK.-.BARBIIE}

[CB wiffiy 4 lifey]

ok, I love CB with all my heart and im not gonna sit here and make excuses 4 em bcuz idk the whole situation all im hearing is da word roud da street but whatever happened i wish him da best of luck on everything and i am still a fan i dont agree wit da ppl sayin he's not a good person bcuz we wasnt there when happened so we no need 4dat...same thing 2 the female and if it's rihanna i love ha!!!and i wish ha the best of luck!!! LOVE you both wit all my heart..

[Carrie]

it doesnt matter who did it, some MAN abused a WOMAN.. who ever it is needs to be punished. We dont need the children the look up to him thinking this is ok. because its not. I dont care if they are famous or not... this is not right by any means. If it was him, I hope he gets what he deserves. if its not him.. looks like we ruined someones reputation..

[Shorty]

OMGosh!! when I 1st heard of this I was just in all. Really I don't see him doing something like this. Maybe he did maybe he didn't. Which ever I'm gonna pray and still be a fan of his! I don't see his career as being over. I mean look at all them other rappers, singers and actors that be in the news for other things. They career still going. Word be told, not saying it's really tru, that he has a side chick back home n Va. But anyways, I'm a fan of both. I just hope we get the whole story soon!!

[PEACE]

I think it's sad for both of them... We'll just have to wait and see what really went on...

[steve rodriguez]

Hey Chris Brown listen up! " You never ever hit a women, man it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!