Las Vegas police are investigating an allegation of battery against R&B singer Chris Brown.

Lt. Jeff Goodwin said authorities received a call shortly before 10:30 a.m. Saturday about the alleged battery at the Palms Casino Resort. A police statement Saturday evening said an altercation took place in a room at the resort when the victim went to take a picture of Brown.

Police say the victim said she was struck by Brown and that he had taken her cellphone. Detectives tried to speak with Brown at his hotel room, but the singer left before police had arrived.

Police say a crime report has been taken for misdemeanour theft and misdemeanour battery listing Brown as a suspect.

Nicole Perna, publicist for Brown, issued a statement Saturday night calling the victim's charges "unequivocally untrue."

Brown was freed from felony probation last year, more than six years after he attacked then-girlfriend Rihanna. The singer pleaded guilty to felony assault against the pop star in that case.

The singer performed Friday at Drai's nightclub at The Cromwell Las Vegas, where he appears regularly.