Investigators on Saturday were looking into allegations made by
actress Amanda Bynes that New York Police Department officers sexually
assaulted her when she was charged with heaving a marijuana bong out
the window of her 36th-floor Manhattan apartment.
The 27-year-old former child star first alleged during her arraignment
on Friday that police illegally entered her apartment after being
called to her building. But in a Twitter message believed to be from
the troubled actress posted on Saturday, Bynes alleged that her
arresting officer also sexually assaulted her.
"As it would with any such allegation, regardless of its credibility,
IAB is investigating it," said the NYPD's chief spokesperson, Paul
Browne, referring to the internal affairs bureau.
The Twitter handle used to make the sexual assault allegations on
Saturday does not appear to be verified by the social network - but
Bynes' friend, former Hollywood publicist Jonathan Jaxson, said on
Saturday the tweet was made from Bynes' account. Twitter did not
immediately return a request for comment.
In court on Friday, the former Hairspray star made no mention of the
sexual assault allegations, though she did complain of illegal entry
to her apartment. She's been charged with reckless endangerment,
attempted tampering with evidence and unlawful possession of
marijuana.
A law enforcement official who spoke to the Associated Press on the
condition of anonymity because of an ongoing investigation said the
building manager was with officers at Bynes' apartment when they
arrived Thursday night. The official said officers were kept waiting
approximately five minutes before she opened the door to them. The
same official said the building manager told internal affair
investigators nothing untoward happened.
Bynes was released by Chief New York County Judge Neil Ross on her own
recognisance because, Ross said, he did not believe her to be a flight
risk. But in releasing her, Ross also issued a stern warning to Bynes,
telling her not to get rearrested or miss any court dates. She's due
back in court on 9 July.
Attempts to reach Bynes' arraignment lawyer were unsuccessful on
Saturday evening.
Bynes rose to fame starring in Nickelodeon's All That and has also
starred in several films, including 2010's Easy A. But she has been in
the news more recently because of several scrapes with the law and
bizarre public behaviour.
Bynes was arrested on Thursday night after building officials called
police to complain she was rolling a joint and smoking pot in the
lobby. The officers went to her apartment where they saw heavy smoke
and a bong sitting on the kitchen counter. They said she tossed the
bong out the window in front of them, prosecutors said on Friday.