Amanda Bynes claims she was sexually abused

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.