LAPD Officers Placed on Leave for Their Possible Involvement in Battered Rihanna Photo Leak

Two Los Angeles Police Department officers have been placed on paid administrative leave, following an investigation into how the photos of a battered Rihanna got into the hands of gossip Web site, TMZ.com.

The L.A. Times reports that the night before the Grammy Awards in February, Rihanna argued with her then-boyfriend Chris Brown, who bit, punched and choked the singer in a rented Lamborghini in the Hancock Park area of L.A., leaving her bruised and bloodied.

One of the officers, identified by sources as Rebecca M. Reyes, is a nine-year veteran of the department and was last assigned to the Wilshire Division. The other, Blanca Lopez, is a rookie officer with the Hollenbeck Division and was a housemate of Reyes, according to sources.

Donald Etra, the attorney for Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, said Thursday that he was pleased that police had gotten to the bottom of the case. He said that no victim should have to worry about such photographs being leaked. He also noted that his client had “nothing but praise for the LAPD.”

The saga continues ...