Two LAPD officers are under investigation after rumors surfaced that they are responsible for leaking a photo of Rihanna’s beaten face after a domestic dispute with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown [click here]. Nine year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, Rebecca Reyes, and her roommate, rookie officer Blanca Lopez, were dismissed with paid leave after a search was conducted at their home, as part of the investigation on how the photo was leaked.
Shortly after the Clive Davis pre-Grammy Award party in February, where the altercation took place, the now infamous photograph of the R&B singer’s bruised and bloodied face appeared on entertainment gossip website, TMZ. Officials are looking into who took the image, how it was distributed to the gossip website, and for what compensation. According to the LA Times [click here], Reyes’ attorney Ira Salzman stated, “My client did not do anything for financial gain… she did not sell the photo.”
Following the leak, TMZ officials reported that the photograph was obtained by a person closely linked to the investigation for $62,500 [click here]. According to a California state law that was implemented this year, it is strictly prohibited for peace officers or law enforcement officials to expose classified information including video, images and reports, whether it be for financial gain or not.
HipHopDX will keep you posted with the latest in the investigation.
