Cop peeked at Whitney Houston’s naked body, claim alleges

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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. 17, 2013 2:24 PM PT

A Beverly Hills police sergeant responding to the scene of Whitney Houston’s death made “inappropriate comments” about the singer’s appearance after lifting a sheet covering her naked body, according to a claim filed by a former Beverly Hills SWAT sergeant.

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?”

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.

DOCUMENT: Read the claim

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 alleged that the City of Beverly Hills and its Police Department “retaliated” by removing him from his position with the SWAT and K-9 units, stripping him of various privileges and subjecting him to various forms of 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 said he could not comment further because the it had been filed with multiple agencies.

Hoshino previously told NBC News that the Police Department was not aware of “any inappropriate behavior or any inappropriate comments.” He said the department stood behind the death investigation “100%.”

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Twitter: @MattStevensLAT

matt.stevens@latimes.com

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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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