R&B singer Chris Brown booked on suspicion of making felony criminal threats

[Updated 9:21 p.m.] R&B singer Chris Brown has been booked tonight on suspicion of making felony criminal threats in connection with an incident involving his girlfriend, pop singer Rihanna, according to Los Angeles Police Department sources familiar with the case.

Brown was booked at the Wilshire Division station and posted $50,000 bail, sources said. He left the station before 9 p.m.

Los Angeles police said earlier they planned to detain Brown for questioning on an alleged domestic violence assault. In an updated statement tonight, police said, additional charges may be filed against Brown when the case is presented to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Brown listed his residence as Washington, Va.

[Updated 7:25 p.m.] Brown arrived at the Wilshire Division police station before 7:15 p.m., accompanied by his attorney Mark Geragos and Geragos' investigator, Scott Ross. The pair drove into a parking lot behind the police station on Venice Boulevard just east of La Brea Avenue in a black Cadillac Escalade. They entered through a back door where a posted sign read “authorized personnel only.” Police are expected to release a statement later this evening

Both Brown and Rihanna canceled their performances at tonight's Grammy Awards.

The alleged incident was reported about 12:30 a.m. Sunday in Hancock Park.

Brown and Rihanna, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, were apparently in a car together and got into an argument on North June Street, according to a Los Angeles Police Department statement. Brown stopped the car, the two got out, and the argument escalated, according to police.

A witness called 911, but Brown was gone when officers arrived at the scene. The woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her attacker, according to police.

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

Shortly before the Grammy show began at 5 p.m. at Staples Center, Grammy officials issued a statement 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 any other 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’s record label spokesman did not respond to The Times’ request for comment. His whereabouts were unknown as the Grammy show began. 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, Geoff Boucher and Ari Bloomekatz

Comments

[Pat]

It is most unfortunate for two talented celebrities. I hope that
they will apologize to one another and move on from this disturbing situation. May God be with the both of them during this crisis.

[chantis]

chris i hpe u are ok that wong wat peaple put in the paper about u i now that u r a good maan and im ur biggest fan but im in love wit u !!! o i think that u should say sorry to rihanna !!!!!!! good luck sayin it

[kelsie moler]

Honestly I think that people are jumping to conclusions way to fast..... Nobody knows the true story, so nobody has any room to judge.... Im not sayin that its right to hit a girl by no means..... But lets wait for the story before we have the comments....... Im not judging Chris at all, I dont have room to judge anyone..... I would love to know what has happened.... Honestly, I think people will be surprised!

[Jernaze Munroe]

this is all a devistating story but i am sure that there is another side of the story so i am not going to judge anyone but i do hope that rihanna gets better and i really hope that christopher maurice brown does not end up going to jail and i hope that their fans will still appreciate all the thingS they have done before

LOVE YOU CHRISTOPHER MAURICE BROWN I HAVE YOUR BACK NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ronnie Reeves]

CHRIS BROWN SHOULD BE THROWN INTO JAIL FOR A LONG TIME FOR BRUTTALLY ATTACKING IS NOW EX-GIRLFRIEND RIHANNA. THIS RELATIONSHIP HAS STARTED OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT AND THEN IT HAS JUST CRUMBLED DOWN LIKE A FALLING BUILDING. I AM PRAYING THAT RIHANNA WILL RECOOPERATE SOON AND FORGET ABOUT BROWN AND LIVE HER LIFE LONG AND WELL. THERE ARE PRETTY GOOD MEN IN THE SEAS FOR RIHANNA, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS, GO ON AND GET RID OF THE EVIL, LIFE THREATENING ONES. RIHANNA, I AM PRAYING THAT YOU WILL GET WELL SOON.

[hippie]

I HATE CHRIS BROWN

[Naatalie]

Regardless of what Rihanna may have done, Chris Brown still should have walked away. Men are naturally physically stronger than women so his punches would do more harm to Rihanna, than her punches would do to him.

No one knows the full story. As someone mentioned earlier, the only sides to the story are hers, his, and the truth. The truth will come out. If Chris Brown really did attack Rihanna, then it will come out.

I really feel sorry for both the victim and the attacker. Chris Brown could possibly ruin his career. I'm saying possibly, because there are still plenty of girls out here who are willing to buy his records despite the fact that he hurt Rihanna. There are still plenty of women who support R-Kelly despite the fact that he urinated on a minor. There are a lot of sick people out here folks.

As for the victim, Rihanna, I feel very sorry for her. I heard that she comes from a family where domestic violence took place. I'm pretty sure that she thought that with all the success she has made within the past few years, she would never face anything like this. It must have been a shock to her, especially to be attacked by someone she loved and trusted. I hope Rihanna can make a full mental as well as physical recovery from this. I hope that she can drop all emotional attachments to Chris Brown and leave him alone. She's a beautiful girl, she will find someone who is willing to love and respect her.

[sameerah]

why