FBI and L.A. social workers investigate allegation of altercation between Brad Pitt and his teen son

Investigations by the FBI and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services into allegations about Brad Pitt’s behavior with one of his children involve an altercation on a plane that officials still are trying to sort out, a law enforcement source said Friday.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing, said the allegation involves some sort of physical altercation between Pitt and his 15-year-old son but does not involve punching or hitting. The source said the altercation began verbally but indicated that officials still are trying to determine exactly what happened.

County social workers are the primary investigators and have talked to the family, the source said. The FBI has not talked to the family and has not launched a formal investigation, but likely will play some role because the altercation occurred on an aircraft, the source added. No formal complaint was made to the FBI, but one was made to DCFS.

DCFS spokesman Armand Montiel said he could not comment on whether the department was investigating.

“The law does not allow us to confirm or deny the subjects of our investigations,” he said.

Laura Wasser, an attorney for Angelina Jolie, who filed for divorce this week from Pitt, declined to comment.

Late Thursday, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller issued a statement, saying, “The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued.”

Jolie cited irreconcilable differences in her divorce filing but didn’t elaborate on what those differences are. Attorney Robert Offer, who also represents Jolie, told the Associated Press on Tuesday the decision to divorce was made “for the health of the family.”

She is seeking sole physical custody and joint legal custody of the couple’s six children: Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh and twins Knox and Vivienne. In the Los Angeles County Superior Court filing, Jolie said she was willing to give her husband visitation rights.

The separation date is listed as Sept. 15. Jolie and Pitt were legally married Aug. 14, 2014, after a two-year engagement.

The couple met while working on the movie “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” and got together in August 2005.

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