Claim alleges cop peeked at Whitney Houston's naked body - Los Angeles Times

Claim alleges cop peeked at Whitney Houston’s naked body

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Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick sing “That’s What Friends Are For” at the 2011 Clive Davis pre-Grammy gala at the Beverly Hilton hotel. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Whitney Houston and then-husband Bobbi Brown at a premiere at Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. (Rene Macura/ Associated Press)

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Whitney Houston, who received the International Artist Award at the 2009 American Music Awards, bows her head after performing at the ceremony. She reigned as pop music’s queen in the 1980s and ‘90s. (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

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Whitney Houston performs “I Have Nothing” at the 1993 Billboard Music Awards, after winning the world artist and world single awards. (Ted S. Warren / Los Angeles Times)

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Whitney Houston performs “Until You Come Back to Me” during the 1999 American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. (Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)

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Whitney Houston and then-husband Bobby Brown perform in the “VH1 Divas” duets show in Las Vegas. (Joe Cavaretta / Associated Press)

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Singer Ray J (bother of Brandi) and Whitney Houston attend the Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe light heavyweight boxing match at the Thomas & Mack center in Las Vegas on April 19, 2008. (Isaac Brekken / Associated Press)

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Whitney Houston performs during the 2011 pre-Grammy gala at the Beverly Hilton. (Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images)

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Whitney Houston sings the national anthem before the New York Giants play the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV in Tampa on Jan. 27, 1991. (George Rose / Getty Images)

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Whitney Houston at an “I Look to You” CD listening party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 23, 2009. (Frank Micelotta / Associated Press)

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Whitney Houston at the Carousel of Hope Ball benefiting the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes in Beverly Hills in October 2006. (Matt Sayles / Associated Press)

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Whitney Houston at a taping of the 1999 MTV Movie Awards at Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Airport on June 9, 1999. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

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Whitney Houston and her mother, Cissy Houston, at a taping of “Soul Train’s” 25th anniversary Hall of Fame Special at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Nov. 2, 1995. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

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Singer Whitney Houston with her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, in Beverly Hills on Feb. 13, 2011. (Dan Steinberg / Associated Press)

By Matt Stevens

Sept. 18, 2013 4 AM PT

A Beverly Hills cop who responded to the scene of Whitney Houston’s death allegedly peeked under a sheet covering her naked body and said “Damn, she’ still looking good, huh?” according to a claim.

In the claim, Sgt. Brian Weir alleges that on the day of Houston’s death in February 2012, Det. Sgt. Terry Nutall arrived at the scene, and “for no legitimate law enforcement inquiry, investigative, or other proper and legal purpose... removed the sheet and/or other covering from the body ... to an area below the pubic region.”

The claim also alleges he “made comments to the effect that the former pop star ‘looked attractive for a woman of her age and current state’ and ‘Damn, she’s still looking good, huh?’ ”

DOCUMENT: Read the claim

The 48-year-old singer was discovered submerged in a bathtub in her room at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office determined she died of accidental drowning, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors.

Weir said in the claim that as the senior patrol sergeant on duty he responded to the death scene. After he complained to his superiors about the alleged misconduct, Weir claims the city and police department “retaliated” by removing him from his position with the SWAT and K-9 units, stripping him of privileges and subjecting him to harassment.

Nutall’s actions included “disturbing and/or moving the body of the decedent from the position of death without the permission of the coroner,” “treating the dead body of the decedent in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities,” “contaminating potential DNA” and “harming the integrity of the scene,” the claim said.

Beverly Hills Police Lt. Lincoln Hoshino said Tuesday that the department was aware of the claim but disputed “that there was any sort of retaliation” against Weir.

“The responding detective sergeant in question was working in the city of Beverly Hills on another assignment, and he did properly and appropriately respond to the scene,” Hoshino said. “It is appropriate for a responding detective sergeant to briefly examine the body upon arriving to a scene like that.”

Hoshino added that the department would investigate Weir’s allegation about the comments made by Nutall, but said “At this time we’re not aware of any inappropriate behavior or inappropriate comments.”

Hoshino said the department stood behind the death investigation “100%” and there were no plans to reopen the investigation.

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Twitter: @MattStevensLAT

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Matt Stevens is a former Metro reporter who covered the California drought and water issues for the Los Angeles Times.

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