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LAPD Captain Sues Elton John Claiming Sexual Harassment

LOS ANGELES (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Los Angeles police captain has sued Elton John, claiming he was repeatedly groped by the singer while he was working off-duty on the Grammy winner's security detail.

The lawsuit by Capt. Jeffrey Wenninger alleges the groping and sexually suggestive comments by John occurred in early 2014. Orin Snyder, an attorney for John's Rocket Entertainment Group, calls the lawsuit baseless and accuses the officer of trying to "extract an undeserved payment.''

Wenninger was working off-duty through a private company that he also is suing, alleging he was improperly removed from working with John in September 2014.

Wenninger's attorney Marla A. Brown refused to address why her client would be seeking work after the alleged incidents occurred.

"The unwelcome touching of plaintiff by (John) occurred on many other occasions over the span of several years since plaintiff began his employment in 2002, escalating in frequency and intensity after 2010," the lawsuit states, CBS News reported. "At no time did plaintiff consent to defendant Elton John touching him in this offensive manner, or in any other manner."

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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