Britney Spears Faces Battery Investigation After Alleged Physical Altercation With Housekeeper

Britney Spears is under investigation for misdemeanor battery after a staff member at her home accused the singer of striking her during a dispute, authorities said Thursday.

The housekeeper claimed that Spears confronted her when she returned to the pop star's Southern California home at around 10:25 a.m. Monday, NBC News reported, citing the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. The woman alleged that Spears slapped her phone out of her hands during their dispute.

The housekeeper called deputies to the house and went to a sheriff's station to file a report.

Media relations officer Captain Eric Buschow confirmed in a statement to USA Today that there were no reported injuries. The incident was classified as a minor misdemeanor battery.

In an email statement to NBC News, Spears' lawyer Mathew Rosengart called the allegation "sensational tabloid fodder."

"This is ... nothing more than an overblown alleged misdemeanor involving a 'he said she said' about a cell phone, with no striking and obviously no injury whatsoever," the former federal prosecutor stated. "Anyone can make an accusation. This should have been closed immediately."

According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, deputies attempted to speak to Spears, but she refused. The results of the sheriff's office's investigation will be forwarded to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office for potential consideration of misdemeanor battery charges.

An unnamed source claimed to Page Six that Spears was allegedly guilty of "swiping a cell phone" but added that "there was no hitting."

"It was mutual and really verbal and truly about the phone," the insider said.

A separate anonymous source told Page Six, "There is not even any alleged 'injury.' It's simply about the phone. This is a fabricated 'he said, she said,' which is going nowhere."

It remains unclear why Spears and the employee allegedly had a dispute.

Buschow, however, said that claims that the case is "not going anywhere" are "really speculative" and that it is now "up to the DA's office."

"There's a process that takes place, and that process is happening, but ultimately it's up to the DA’s office whether they feel it's appropriate to file charges or not," he continued, adding that the staffer told officers she "desired prosecution."

The allegation comes amid Spears' ongoing battle to have her father, Jamie Spears, removed as her conservator after 13 years.

In a response to the petition to remove him, Jamie agreed last week to step down as her conservator and "prepare for an orderly transition to a new conservator." He indicated in his filing that he would be "willing to step down when the time is right, but the transition needs to be orderly and include a resolution of matters."