Case against Kobe Bryant still open

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant is still being investigated for an alleged altercation with a fellow churchgoer in San Diego this month, but it doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be charged.

San Diego police have spoken to the alleged victim in the incident, Thomas Hagos of San Diego, but also want to speak to witnesses, according to Detective Gary Hassen, a department spokesman.

"We're still interviewing people," Hassen said. "It's still under investigation, still open, and hasn't gone to the city attorney as far as we know."

Police had to wait a week to interview Hagos, who spoke to them last week, Hassen said.

According to reports, Bryant was attending Sunday Mass with his wife at St. Therese of Carmel Church in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego. Bryant apparently believed that Hagos was taking a picture of him with his cell phone and allegedly grabbed the phone.

He returned the phone to Hagos and left a few minutes later. Hagos went to UC San Diego Medical Center to have his wrist checked and was released.

Police have still not spoken with Bryant, Hassen said. Through his attorney, Bryant has denied injuring Hagos.

"My understanding is that whatever contact we have with (Bryant) is through his attorney," Hassen said.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that former Padres pitcher Trevor Hoffman happened to be at the same Mass but did not see an altercation.

"I was as surprised as anyone to see Kobe there," Hoffman told the newspaper. "I was not aware of anything happening. I did not see any incident."

Hoffman said one of his three sons later approached Bryant and that police were interested in speaking to him. But Hassen said he was not aware if Hoffman's son had been interviewed.

The incident is being handled as a misdemeanor battery case.