Mel Gibson to be investigated for domestic violence

07/08/2010 by Corinne Heller

A preliminary investigation of Mel Gibson has been opened following domestic violence allegations made by ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, the mother of his 8-month-old daughter, Lucia, Los Angeles authorities say.

The alleged attack against Grigorieva, a 40-year-old Russian model and pianist, is said to have taken place on January 6 at Gibson's home in Malibu, California and the 54-year-old Braveheart actor has been named a potential suspect.

Gibson and Grigorieva have not commented on the report. The two were reportedly involved in a heated exchange as part of an ongoing custody battle, which sparked condemnation from the NAACP for alleged racist remarks from Gibson, which his spokesperson has not confirmed. The two, who broke up in April after a one-year relationship, filed restraining orders against each other recently.

"The Detective in charge of the investigation is currently gathering information regarding the allegations," A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department statement said. "Due to the investigation being preliminary in nature, no other information is available at this time."

Gibson completed a stint in rehab following a 2006 DUI tirade in which he hurled anti-Semitic and sexist comments at the arresting police officers. He later entered rehab for alcohol-related treatment. His conviction has since been expunged.

Gibson has six sons and a daughter with ex-wife Robyn Moore, to whom he was married for some 30 years and divorced in 2009, and Grigorieva has a son with another ex-boyfriend, James Bond star Timothy Dalton.