<p><br /> Police officials say they are looking into claims that Oscar-winning director and actor Mel Gibson physically abused his former girlfriend and the mother of one of his children.<br /> </p><p><br /> The Los Angeles County Sheriff's office released a statement saying it was "gathering information regarding the allegations" and would disclose no other details because the probe was preliminary.<br /> </p><p><br /> A spokesman for The Passion of the Christ and Braveheart star was not immediately available to comment.<br /> </p><p><br /> The sheriff's statement said the alleged violence occurred in January at Gibson's home in Malibu, California, and it named his ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva, as the alleged victim.<br /> </p><p><br /> Gibson, 54, and the 40-year-old Russian singer have been embroiled in a bitter legal battle in recent months over the custody of their infant daughter, Lucia.<br /> </p><p><br /> They have obtained restraining orders against each other.<br /> </p>
