Kanye West being investigated in assault

Beverly Hills police confirmed they are investigating Kanye West in an alleged attack Monday on a man who hurled racial slurs at the rapper's fiancee, Kim Kardashian.

Referring to "a misdemeanor battery" at an office building in the 8800 block of Wilshire Blvd., police said, "The named suspect was identified as Kanye West by the victim and several witnesses. Mr. West had left the location prior to officers' arrival." Detectives "are conducting a follow-up investigation," the statement added.

Neither West nor Kardashian have commented publicly, and representatives for the couple did not respond to Newsday requests for comment.

West, 36, also faces criminal charges after clashing with photographer Daniel Ramos at Los Angeles International Airport last summer. He pleaded not guilty and is next due in court Jan. 23 for a hearing.

Monday's contretemps came after a young man, holding open an office-building door for Kardashian, began hurling racial epithets at paparazzi who had gathered for her.

Witnesses told KTLA-TV that when Kardashian asked him to refrain, he began yelling at her instead. She appeared to telephone West, who subsequently encountered the man in a chiropractor's office, where the alleged attack took place. TMZ.com first reported the incident.

Meanwhile, West filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Tuesday to halt production of "Coinye West," a form of the bitcoin peer-to-peer payment system and digital currency.

The coins use what appears to be a cartoon likeness of West.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for hurting West's reputation.