binkywood: Chris Brown booked on suspicion of making criminal threats

The Grammy Awards should have been a big night for R&B singer Chris Brown and pop sensation Rihanna, but it didn't turn out that way. Although they were both nominated and scheduled to perform at the ceremony, neither showed up. As the show went on, details about their absences started to surface: the LAPD were investigating Chris on domestic battery allegations - a felony in the US - and Rihanna abruptly pulled out of her Grammy committments, causing widespread speculation about whether the two incidents were connected.

Chris and Rihanna were seen at a pre-Grammy party at the Beverly Hills Hilton on Saturday night, about five miles from the spot where police were called at about 12.30 Sunday morning. According to reports, Chris and an unidentified woman were arguing in a car near Hollywood's Hancock Park. The argument got heated, they got out of the car and the fight continued. Police were called (by a witness, apparently); by the time they reached the scene Chris had taken off, but the woman was still there and visibly injured.

She identified Chris as her attacker.

A LAPD police officer said that the case was being investigated as a felony and not a misdemeanor because of the victim's injuries. "It can be as small as a scratch or much worse, as long as injuries are visible, it's considered a felony," Officer Karen Smith told People.

Chris turned himself in later in the evening and posted a $50,000 bail. He was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats and has a court date of March 5.

Although Rihanna hasn't been positively ID's as the victim, she and Chris have been romantically linked for several months and many outlets are reporting that it was her. A few web sites have reported today that she was hospitalized with facial bruising, though the only word from her camp is that she is "well".

More on this story as it continues to develop...

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