Las Vegas police investigating Chris Brown for alleged battery
LAS VEGAS -- Las Vegas police are investigating an allegation of battery against R&B singer Chris Brown.
Lt. Jeff Goodwin said authorities received a call shortly before 10:30 a.m. Saturday about the alleged battery at the Palms Casino Resort. A police statement Saturday evening said an altercation took place in a room at the resort when the victim tried to take a picture of Brown.
Police said the victim said she was struck by Brown and that he had taken her cellphone. Detectives tried to speak with Brown at his hotel room, but the singer left before police had arrived.
A crime report has been taken for misdemeanor theft and misdemeanor battery listing Brown as a suspect, police said.
Brown's attorney and publicist did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
CBS affiliate KLAS reported it isn't the first incident involving Brown at the resort.
In May of 2015, police said Brown punched a man during an argument. The male victim didn't press criminal charges.
Brown spent two-and-a-half months in jail after he was arrested for hitting a man outside a Washington hotel in October 2013.
He pleaded guilty to felony assault for punching then-girlfriend Rihanna hours before the 2009 Grammy Awards. In March 2015, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James R. Brandlin said Brown had completed his sentence, which included community service, domestic violence counseling and rehab.
He cancelled concerts in Australia and New Zealand in December after Australian authorities warned the troubled R&B singer they were likely to refuse him a visa because of his criminal conviction for the assault.
The singer performed Friday at Drai's nightclub at The Cromwell Las Vegas, where he appears regularly.