LAPD says it isn't investigating Brad Pitt following abuse allegations

The Los Angeles Police Department says it's not investigating Brad Pitt in the wake of Thursday reports from TMZand People that alleged the actor was involved in an incident of abuse aboard a private jet last week. Both outlets originally reported that the LAPD and LA County Department of Children and Family Services were investigating Pitt.

"We have no criminal investigation against Mr. Pitt," Sgt. Barry Montgomery, an LAPD spokesman, told Business Insider on the phone Thursday morning. "As of right now, we're getting a lot of calls, and the story is the same. We know of no investigation involving Mr. Pitt. We are not actively investigating Mr. Pitt."

A representative for the LA County Department of Children and Family Services denied that the department was investigating Pitt. When asked whether the department had been alerted to any incident involving the actor, the person responded, "Do you think even if we had we would share it with you?"

"To my knowledge, [Pitt talking to police] never happened," Montgomery told The Hollywood Reporter. "And right now, that is where our office is. We are not investigating any case, nor do we have any allegations against Mr. Pitt. We understand how rumors get spun up and hopefully we can put a few of them to rest."

TMZ, citing anonymous sources, reported early Thursday morning that Pitt was suspected of being "verbally abusive and physical with his children" during a trip last Wednesday on the family private jet and that Pitt was supposedly intoxicated. TMZ said that was what prompted Angelina Jolie to file for divorce the following Tuesday.

People magazine originally said its source had confirmed investigations by both the LAPD and the LA County Department of Children and Family Services, but an updated version of the article on People's website removed any mention that its source had confirmed an LAPD investigation.

TMZ and People, citing anonymous sources, reported that an anonymous tip from a witness on the airport tarmac prompted the investigation. TMZ's sources said that Jolie and the couple's children were on the jet with Pitt and that Pitt attempted to exit the scene in an airport fuel truck.

Jolie is seeking sole custody of the couple's six children. The actress filed for divorce on Tuesday, citing "irreconcilable differences," and she is reportedly requesting that a judge grant Pitt visitation rights as opposed to joint custody. Robert Offer, an attorney for the family, said Jolie's decision was made "for the health of the family," according to an Associated Press report.