Brown charged w/ making criminal threats

LOS ANGELES Police say the 19-year-old singer and a woman got into an argument around 12:30 a.m. Sunday while driving in a rented Lamborghini on N. June Street in Hancock Park. The argument escalated after Brown stopped the vehicle and they got out. A passerby called police. Police say the woman suffered visible injuries and identified Brown as her assailant, but he was gone by the time officers arrived.

The /*Los Angeles Times*/ is reporting that sources say the woman involved is Brown's girlfriend /*Rihanna*/. But an official police statement did not name the victim, citing confidentiality for victims of domestic abuse.

Brown turned himself into police at the Wilshire station around 7 p.m. Sunday night during the 51st /*Grammy Awards*/. He was interviewed by detectives and booked on a felony criminal threat charge.

Brown was released after posting $50,000 bail and left with his attorney /*Mark Geragos*/ in a SUV. LAPD Sgt. Bridget Pickett described the singer as "professional" during processing.

Both Brown and Rihanna were due to perform at the Grammy Awards Sunday night, however neither made an appearance.

Rihanna's publicist declined to say why the singer did not appear, saying only that she was "well" and expressing thanks for the concern and support. Brown's representatives also refused to discuss the allegations or his arrest.

Brown was not booked on suspicion of physically hurting the woman. Pickett said a criminal threats charge indicates a person makes a threat and has the capacity to carry it out.

"The district attorney's office may file additional charges based on injuries, but we've left that up to the district attorney's office," said Pickett.

Officials with the DA's office say they have not determined whether to file charges against Brown.

> Pickett said Brown did not appear to have any physical injuries. She said she did not know who placed the 911 call and a police spokeswoman said the department would not release the tape.

On Monday, Wrigely said it would suspend any current advertising or any related marketing campaigns featuring Brown as its spokesman for Doublemint gum until the situation is resolved.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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