WASHINGTON, USA (AP) — Chris Brown was arrested early yesterday in Washington after a fight broke out near the W Hotel, police said, complicating an already snarled legal history for the Grammy Award-winning R&B singer.

Brown, 24, was charged with felony assault in an incident that started just before 4:30 am, D.C. police spokesman Paul Metcalf said yesterday morning. Chris Hollosy, 35, also was arrested on felony assault charges, Metcalf said. Police believe the two men were together during the incident but said they couldn’t confirm any relationship between the suspects.

“There was a physical altercation, which resulted in the victim sustaining injuries,” Metcalf said.

Brown and Hollosy were being held in police custody until today, Metcalf said.

A man was injured in the fight and reportedly taken to a hospital, police said, but they did not identify him or give details on his injuries. It was not clear whether the victim was taken by ambulance or another vehicle. He had been released from the hospital as of early Sunday afternoon, Metcalf said.

The felony charges in the case were based, in part, on the extent of the victim’s injuries, police said.

Brown’s publicists and attorney, Mark Geragos, did not immediately respond to messages left early yesterday.

Brown was in Washington to perform Saturday night at an event billed as a “Homecoming Weekend” party at a downtown club. He tweeted about the party Saturday. Howard University spokeswoman Kerry-Ann Hamilton said yesterday that the party was not sponsored by or affiliated with the school, which is celebrating its homecoming.

Brown remains on probation for the 2009 beating of his on-again, off-again girlfriend Rihanna just before the Grammy Awards. The photos of Rihanna’s bruised face caused outrage among many fans. Brown pleaded guilty to one count of felony assault as part of a plea deal. He received five years’ probation and had remained out of trouble until earlier this year, when prosecutors accused the singer of failing to perform his community labour sentence as instructed.

His probation was revoked briefly earlier this year after a hit-and-run incident, and he was given 1,000 more hours of community service to perform.