Crime & Safety

Beverly Hills Sergeant who Reported Colleague for Discussing Whitney Houston's Body Sues

Sgt. Brian Weir says after he came forward, he was removed from his positions with the SWAT and K-9 teams, removed from supervisory positions and denied promotions.

A Beverly Hills police sergeant sued the city today, alleging he was harassed and denied promotions for reporting a colleague who made inappropriate comments about Whitney Houston's body at the scene of her death.

Sgt. Brian Weir filed the retaliation complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court. He wants unspecified damages.

Beverly Hills police Lt. Lincoln Hoshino said he was unaware of the lawsuit, but considered similar allegations a claim filed last year to be "baseless." Filing a claim is a precursor to a lawsuit.

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The 48-year-old singer was found submerged in a bathtub in her room at the Beverly Hilton on Feb. 11, 2012 -- just before the Grammy Awards. The coroner's office concluded she drowned accidentally, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors.

The lawsuit alleges that Detective Sgt. Terry Nutall knelt beside and leaned over Houston, removed the sheet covering her body and said, "Damn, she's still looking good, huh?"

Find out what's happening in Beverly Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Nutall also made comments "to the effect and substance that (Houston) looked attractive for a woman her age and current state," the lawsuit states.

Nutall's alleged actions violated state or federal statutes that forbid disturbing or moving the body of a decedent without permission of the coroner and also presented potential DNA contamination issues, the lawsuit states.

In addition, Nutall "treated the dead body of the decedent in a way that Nutall knew would outrage ordinary family sensibilities," according to the lawsuit.

The suit alleges that, after Weir came forward with his complaints about Nutall's alleged conduct, he was removed from his positions with the SWAT and K-9 teams, removed from supervisory positions and denied promotions.

Weir also lost overtime opportunities, was denied training and was ostracized and harassed within the department, the suit states. Along with damages, Weir is asking to be restored to his SWAT and K-9 positions, which are considered "coveted" positions with the BHPD, the suit states.

Nutall has since been promoted to lieutenant, the suit states.

--City News Service


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