Domestic Violence Investigation Opened Involving Mel Gibson

The sheriff’s department confirmed today that it has opened a domestic violence investigation involving actor-director Mel Gibson and his former girlfriend, who gave birth to their daughter last year.

A statement released by the sheriff’s Malibu/Lost Hills station said the detective in charge of the investigation “is currently gathering information regarding the allegations.”

“Due to the investigation being preliminary in nature, no other information is available at this time,” the statement says.

The alleged incident occurred Jan. 6 at the 54-year-old actor’s Malibu residence, according to the sheriff’s department, which lists the alleged victim as 40-year-old Oksana Grigorieva.

Radaronline.com reported this week that it had exclusively obtained tapes recorded by Grigorieva, in which Gibson allegedly is heard saying she “deserved it” after hitting her in the fact twice while she was holding their daughter Lucia.

The Russian model/pianist gave birth to Gibson’s eighth child last October. She also has a son from a previous relationship with British actor Timothy Dalton.

Her relationship with Gibson became public after his wife of 28 years filed for divorce last year.