LAPD Investigates Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Allegations

The Los Angeles Police Department will investigate any sexual assault allegations made against Bill Cosby, despite statutes of limitations that would prevent criminal charges being brought against the 77- year-old entertainer, police Chief Charlie Beck said today.

“We don’t turn people away because things are out of statute,” the chief said. “You come to us, especially with a sexual allegation, we will work with you.”

Beck said the department looks at “any allegation that has been brought forth to us, but they have not received any “at this point” involving the sexual assault allegations against Cosby.

A lawsuit was filed Tuesday accusing Cosby of sexually assaulting a girl at the Playboy Mansion in 1974 when she was 15.

In recent weeks, at least 20 women have accused Cosby of sexually abusing them. Many also claim they were drugged or plied with alcohol.

Cosby attorney Martin Singer has denied any wrongdoing by his client.

On Wednesday, attorney Gloria Allred held a news conference with three accusers -- two of them speaking about it publicly for the first time -- and called on Cosby to establish a $100 million fund and go to an arbitrator to sort out civil damages, or to waive the statute of limitations so both he and his accusers could have their day in court.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Judy Huth contends she and a friend met Cosby in 1974 when they walked to the set of a film being shot in San Marino. She and her friend, who was 16 at the time, spoke to the actor and he invited them to his tennis club the following Saturday, according to the lawsuit.

When the girls went to the club, Cosby directed them to follow him to a house, where he gave them alcohol and they played billiards. He then led them to another house, which turned out to be the Playboy Mansion, according to the lawsuit.

At some point, Huth told Cosby she needed to use the bathroom, according to the lawsuit.

“Cosby directed her to a bathroom within a bedroom suite near the game room,” the lawsuit states. “When plaintiff emerged from the bathroom, she found Cosby sitting on the bed. He asked her to sit beside him. He then proceeded to sexually molest her by attempting to put his hand down her pants, and then taking her hand in his hand and performing a sex act on himself without her consent.”

Huth contends she has suffered “psychological damage and mental anguish” throughout her life, but only recently discovered the problems were “caused by the sexual abuse perpetrated by Cosby.”

The lawsuit alleges sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The complaint seeks unspecified damages.

—City News Service

Image: Courtesy of @peoplemag via Twitter