Prosecutors seek more evidence on Chris' dispute

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors said they want more evidence from police before determining whether to press charges against Chris Brown, who’s accused in a domestic dispute that reportedly involves Rihanna.

Police presented a case regarding Brown, but did not release any of its details, Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman Jane Robison said. She said the office would have no further comment on the case.

Brown was arrested after surrendering to police, who sought the singer when a woman identified him as her attacker during a fight the night before. Media outlets, citing sources and police officials who were not named, have identified the woman as Rihanna, Brown’s longtime girlfriend.

Though an initial police news release indicated that they were investigating a battery on a woman who was injured, Brown was booked only on suspicion of making a criminal threat, a felony. Police have said that prosecutors would determine what charges, if any, were warranted.

The district attorney’s kicking the case back to police could signal that prosecutors are seeking to build stronger charges against Brown; or it could mean the current evidence is too flimsy or has holes that would drop it to a misdemeanor or make it go away altogether, Loyola University law Prof. Stan Goldman said.

“Sending it back certainly isn’t the death penalty,” Goldman said.

“If you’re Chris Brown,” he added, “it’s both bad and good.”

A police spokeswoman said the department had no comment about the district attorney’s decision.

Brown remains free on $50,000 bail.

The allegations have at least momentarily tarnished Brown’s squeaky-clean image. At least one major sponsor, the chewing gum maker Wrigley, has suspended ad campaigns featuring the singer.

Brown has withdrawn from public appearances in Phoenix scheduled for this weekend before the NBA All-Star game. Rihanna postponed a planned concert in Malaysia.

Brown and Rihanna skipped performances at the recently-held Grammy Awards, leaving fellow recording artists to try to make sense of the allegations.

Kanye West, who toured with Rihanna, said on Ryan Seacrest’s morning radio show that the reports of abuse were “devastating.”