Bynes: Drug Charges Are 'Lies,' Cop 'Sexually Harassed Me'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Amanda Bynes on Saturday released a statement via Twitter, claiming a police officer sexually harassed her and touched her inappropriately the night before her arrest, and that the charges that she threw a bong out a window were "lies."

Bynes, 27, was arrested Thursday night and was charged with possession of marijuana, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence.

Police were called to Bynes' luxury West 47th Street apartment building, after a building employee reported she was rolling, lighting and smoking a joint in the lobby.

When officers got up to her 36th floor apartment, police said they saw heavy smoke and a marijuana bong sitting on the kitchen counter. Police said she then tossed the bong out the window in front of them, according to prosecutors.

But in an extended statement tweeted through the Twitplus app Saturday, Bynes called the charges against her "lies" and claimed that it all started when one of the responding officers sexually harassed her the night before.

The statement in full said:

"Don't believe the reports about me being arrested. It's all lies. I was sexually harassed by one of the cops the night before last which is who then arrested me. He lied and said I threw a bong out the window when I opened the window for fresh air. Hilarious. He slapped my vagina. Sexual harassment. Big deal.

"I then called the cops on him," the statement continued. "He handcuffed me, which I resisted, quite unlike any of the reports stated. Then I was sent to a mental hospital. Offensive. I kept asking for my lawyer but they wouldn't let me. The cops were creepy. The cop sexually harassed me, they found no pot on me or bong outside my window. That's why the judge let me go. Don't believe any reports."

On Saturday evening the NYPD announced that it was launching an Internal Affairs investigation into the incident.

"As it would with any such allegation, regardless of its credibility, IAB is investigating it," NYPD Spokesman Paul Browne said.

A building manager who was present at the time of Bynes' arrest told Internal Affairs that at no time did any officers touch her, 1010 WINS reporter Gary Baumgarten reported.

On Friday, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Chikaelo Ibeabuchi said at the time of her arrest, Bynes told police the purported bong was "was just a vase."

After the alleged incident, Bynes was handcuffed and hid under a tousled blond wig as she was led into a Manhattan detention center where she spent the night.

On Friday, Manhattan Judge Neil Ross released Bynes on her own recognizance. She is due back in court on July 9.

Bynes' lawyer Andrew Friedman said in court that his client denies the allegations.

"My client completely denies illegally throwing anything out of her window," Friedman said at the arraignment.

Bynes backed up that claim with a tweet Friday night, saying: "I only smoke tobacco I don't drink or do drugs. I've never had a bong in my life! I need to get another nose job after seeing my mugshot! :D"

Ibeabuchi said no bong was recovered. Bynes' attorney said that was a sign that his client was telling the truth.

"There was nothing recovered from the sidewalk, clearly a search was made for the bag,'' said Friedman, who is filing a counter complaint against the NYPD for illegally following the actress into her apartment, CBS 2's Amy Dardashtian reported.

Before being released, Ross gave Bynes a stern warning not to miss future court dates.

"I do want to make sure you understand," he said. "If you fail to come to court or even if you come to court late, I'm going to be setting very, very significant bail."

The troubled actress rose to fame a decade ago as a major star on Nickelodeon. She has also starred in several films, including 2010's "Easy A."

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Bynes has recently garnered national attention for posting odd videos and racy pictures on Twitter.

She has other criminal charges pending against her, in addition to the charges she now faces. She is due in court next week for an arrest from April 2012 for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Bynes is also on three years probation for driving with a suspended license.

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