LAPD investigates Charlie Sheen over 'felony threat'

LOS ANGELES, April 7 (UPI) -- Charlie Sheen is under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department after recordings of the actor confessing to making harrowing threats were published last month.

The investigation was prompted after his ex-fiancee, former pornography actress Scottine Ross, filed a civil suit accusing Sheen of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and negligence for hiding his HIV diagnosis during their relationship, NBC reported.

On March 31, The National Enquirer and Radar Online published excerpts of a recording in which Sheen is said to confess to lying about his health status and threatens to kill an unnamed person. NBC said the threat was toward Ross.

Police named the Two and a Half Men actor as a suspect in the "felony threat investigation," but provided no other details. A subpoena has reportedly issued for the audiotape that contains the threat and a warrant issued to search the offices of Radar Online in California. But Radar is fighting it, claiming the warrant violates California's "shield law" and also the federal Privacy Protection Act.

"The victim is Scottie Ross, aka Brett Rossi," the LAPD said in documents obtained by Radar. "In 2013 and 2014, Ross and actor Charlie Sheen had been involved in a relationship."

Earlier this month, Ross was granted an emergency protection order against her ex. The retired adult film star said Sheen "had brandished firearms at her and threatened her life," among other offenses but did not report them because "she feared for her safety and was under Sheen's control."