Rihanna: Officers put on leave in photo leakage case

Rihanna: Officers put on leave in photo leakage case

Two LAPD officers have been placed on paid administrative leave in the ongoing police investigation regarding leakage of Rihanna's injury photo.

Officer Rebecca Reyes, a nine-year employee of the department, is under investigation for both criminal and administrative issues. Her lawyer Ira Salzman has confirmed to PEOPLE.

Salzman adds that search warrants were executed on Reyes's home in late June, and her computer and cell phone records have been seized.
Salzman said, "But my client did not sell any photos for profit," "She did not commit any criminal act."

A second officer, Blanca Lopez, a rookie employee who is a former housemate of Reyes's, is also on paid administrative leave in connection with the investigation.

Her attorney Robert Rico said, "My client is flabbergasted, having been dragged into the investigation,". "She never saw the photograph of Rihanna until it came out on TV."

Both attorneys said that their clients are officers of good standing with the department.

A shocking photo of a bruised and battered Rihanna was posted on a famous celebrity magazine two weeks after Chris Brown was arrested for battering her. He has since pleaded guilty to felony assault, and was sentenced to 6 months of community labor and five years' probation.

In a newly enacted California law, it is a misdemeanor for police officers or law enforcement employees to leak confidential reports or images in exchange for money.

LAPD spokeswoman Rosario Herrera remarked, "This is a pending investigation, so we're not commenting on it".

Rihanna's attorney Donald Etra praised the efforts of the investigation, by telling another news magazine of US, "No victim should have to worry about crime scene photos being leaked."