CALABASAS, Calif. (Bennington Vale Evening Transcript) -- Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department are investigating a complaint from a celebrity photographer that 18-year-old pop sensation Justin Bieber "physically battered" him at an outdoor shopping area Sunday near the exclusive Calabasas community where the Canadian-born singer now resides. Entertainment news source TMZ, citing eyewitness accounts, reported that the confrontation arose when the paparazzo attempted to block Bieber from entering his car with his girlfriend, actress Selena Gomez, 19. Police are withholding the identity of Bieber's victim, as well as the extent of his injuries. Many who observed the altercation described the beating administered by Bieber as "degrading," "thuggish," and emotionally traumatic.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Bennington Vale Evening Transcript) -- Disney darling Selena Gomez was granted a restraining order Wednesday by a Los Angeles Superior Court against a 46-year-old man who exhibited “obsessive, harassing and threatening” behavior, and who spoke of harboring thoughts of killing the 19-year-old celebrity. Last month, police placed the suspect on a 72-hour mental health hold after he threatened to harm fans gathered outside Disney television studios by scratching out their eyes and driving ice picks into their eardrums. At that time, the man had described his intentions to authorities as “acts of mercy.”