Swinny
12-22-2010, 04:41 PM
Lindsay Lohan Named a Suspect in Assault Case at Rehab
By Ken Lee
Tuesday December 21, 2010 12:50 PM EST
Just weeks away from completing her court-ordered stay at the Betty Ford Center, Lindsay Lohan is being investigated by police after allegedly assaulting a female employee at the clinic.
Palm Desert police conducted a battery investigation at the scene at about 1 a.m. on Dec. 12. "The victim desired prosecution," says Sgt. Joe Borja of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. "The incident is being investigated as a misdemeanor."
A source close to Lohan, 24, says the actress denies pushing the woman first. The staffer scolded Lohan for allegedly returning past curfew after spending the evening at a local bar, TMZ reports.
It isn't known whether she had been drinking; the Betty Ford Center regularly tests patients for alcohol and drugs.
Sgt. Borja explains that no arrest was made because the incident didn't occur in front of an officer.
Lohan, 24, has been at the Rancho Mirage, Calif., facility since Sept. 28, and was ordered by a Beverly Hills judge to remain there until at least Jan. 3.
It remains to be seen whether the incident would be deemed a violation of Lohan's probation terms stemming from her ongoing DUI case. A violation could send her back to jail.
As of Tuesday, Beverly Hills Superior Court Judge Elden Fox, who's overseeing her case, has not been notified, according to a court source.
Lindsay Lohan Snuck Out of Rehab for Alcohol, Worker Says
By Mike Fleeman
Update Tuesday December 21, 2010 10:00 PM EST Originally posted Tuesday December 21, 2010 10:00 PM EST
Lindsay Lohan's troubles at the Betty Ford Center are mounting. And she's not the only one there with problems.
An employee of the clinic went public Tuesday with claims the actress was "out of control" and had alcohol on her breath during a tussle between them on Dec. 12.
Dawn Holland, a chemical technician at the desert rehab facility, gave her account in a video interview with TMZ.com, which included a copy of her report on the incident.
Within minutes of the story posting, Holland was fired.
"Regrettably," the Betty Ford Center said in a statement, "one of our employees violated strict confidentiality guidelines and laws by publically identifying patients in a media interview and by disclosing a privileged document."
The center didn't comment on Holland's allegations or a police investigation in which Lohan has been named a suspect for alleged misdemeanor battery.
Lohan Called 'Angry'
According to Holland, Lohan and two other patients had "snuck out" and "went drinking," but were caught by another technician when they were "trying to jump over the back wall" to the clinic house in which they were living.
Holland was then called to administer Breathalyzer tests to the three patients when trouble erupted between her and a foul-mouthed Lohan, she says. "She was very angry and out of control," says Holland.
Police were called, and while Holland was on the phone with authorities, Lohan "grabbed my wrist and snatched it down" to try to wrest away the phone, sending Holland to the emergency room with a sprained right arm and hand, she says. Holland says she's now on worker's compensation leave.
Throughout the night, Lohan refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test and had apparently been drinking. "She had alcohol on her breath," says Holland, who denies being the aggressor. "I did not touch the woman," she says. "I am not willing to risk my job over any patient."
Lohan's attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, said in a statement: "We are declining to comment on the underlying facts surrounding this incident, as we await the completion of the police investigation. It should be noted, however, that it was Ms. Lohan who called 911 to request police assistance at the time this incident occurred."
Lohan, who has just weeks left of her court-ordered stay at Betty Ford, is still under probation in a DUI case. A violation, including breaking the law, could send her back to jail.
• Reporting by KEN LEE
By Ken Lee
Tuesday December 21, 2010 12:50 PM EST
Just weeks away from completing her court-ordered stay at the Betty Ford Center, Lindsay Lohan is being investigated by police after allegedly assaulting a female employee at the clinic.
Palm Desert police conducted a battery investigation at the scene at about 1 a.m. on Dec. 12. "The victim desired prosecution," says Sgt. Joe Borja of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. "The incident is being investigated as a misdemeanor."
A source close to Lohan, 24, says the actress denies pushing the woman first. The staffer scolded Lohan for allegedly returning past curfew after spending the evening at a local bar, TMZ reports.
It isn't known whether she had been drinking; the Betty Ford Center regularly tests patients for alcohol and drugs.
Sgt. Borja explains that no arrest was made because the incident didn't occur in front of an officer.
Lohan, 24, has been at the Rancho Mirage, Calif., facility since Sept. 28, and was ordered by a Beverly Hills judge to remain there until at least Jan. 3.
It remains to be seen whether the incident would be deemed a violation of Lohan's probation terms stemming from her ongoing DUI case. A violation could send her back to jail.
As of Tuesday, Beverly Hills Superior Court Judge Elden Fox, who's overseeing her case, has not been notified, according to a court source.
Lindsay Lohan Snuck Out of Rehab for Alcohol, Worker Says
By Mike Fleeman
Update Tuesday December 21, 2010 10:00 PM EST Originally posted Tuesday December 21, 2010 10:00 PM EST
Lindsay Lohan's troubles at the Betty Ford Center are mounting. And she's not the only one there with problems.
An employee of the clinic went public Tuesday with claims the actress was "out of control" and had alcohol on her breath during a tussle between them on Dec. 12.
Dawn Holland, a chemical technician at the desert rehab facility, gave her account in a video interview with TMZ.com, which included a copy of her report on the incident.
Within minutes of the story posting, Holland was fired.
"Regrettably," the Betty Ford Center said in a statement, "one of our employees violated strict confidentiality guidelines and laws by publically identifying patients in a media interview and by disclosing a privileged document."
The center didn't comment on Holland's allegations or a police investigation in which Lohan has been named a suspect for alleged misdemeanor battery.
Lohan Called 'Angry'
According to Holland, Lohan and two other patients had "snuck out" and "went drinking," but were caught by another technician when they were "trying to jump over the back wall" to the clinic house in which they were living.
Holland was then called to administer Breathalyzer tests to the three patients when trouble erupted between her and a foul-mouthed Lohan, she says. "She was very angry and out of control," says Holland.
Police were called, and while Holland was on the phone with authorities, Lohan "grabbed my wrist and snatched it down" to try to wrest away the phone, sending Holland to the emergency room with a sprained right arm and hand, she says. Holland says she's now on worker's compensation leave.
Throughout the night, Lohan refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test and had apparently been drinking. "She had alcohol on her breath," says Holland, who denies being the aggressor. "I did not touch the woman," she says. "I am not willing to risk my job over any patient."
Lohan's attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, said in a statement: "We are declining to comment on the underlying facts surrounding this incident, as we await the completion of the police investigation. It should be noted, however, that it was Ms. Lohan who called 911 to request police assistance at the time this incident occurred."
Lohan, who has just weeks left of her court-ordered stay at Betty Ford, is still under probation in a DUI case. A violation, including breaking the law, could send her back to jail.
• Reporting by KEN LEE