Yesterday we learned the disheartening news that Lindsay Lohan reportedly threw a party where alcohol was served with a bunch of fellow rehabbers while in a Betty Ford Center Sober Living facility last week. Additionally, Lindsay reportedly visited a bar on the night of this party. Today TMZ is reporting that a female staffer at Betty Ford is alleging that L. Lo assaulted her after she returned from that bar … and she wants to move forward with charges.

Lindsay Lohan is a suspect in a criminal battery investigation and the alleged victim — a staff member at Betty Ford — wants Lindsay prosecuted … this according to law enforcement sources. The Palm Desert Police Department is now investigating an altercation that occurred after Lindsay and her roommates reportedly went to a bar and came back home. Upon arriving at the house, the incident with a female staffer from Betty Ford allegedly went down. The police received a call at 1:03 AM on December 12 for “hand-to-hand battery.” Cops came to Betty Ford after receiving the call and interviewed both the staffer and Lindsay. We’re told the staffer “desired prosecution.” We’re told when the police finish the investigation, the case will be forwarded to prosecutors for review.

TMZ is also reporting Lindsay‘s side of the story. According to “sources close to” Lohan, it was the female staffer who first put her hands on Lindsay and that is what started the physical altercation:

Lindsay is telling people close to her … the drama unfolded when she arrived to the BFC on December 12 roughly ten minutes after her curfew. Lindsay claims when she walked into the BFC — a female staff member was “unfairly” scolding her about the situation … and demanded the actress take a drug/alcohol test. We’re told it was during the heated exchange that the woman “put her hands on Lindsay.” Lindsay claims she told the woman, “Take your hands off of me” and then “pushed back” … We’re told Lindsay feels the staffer has had it out for her for a while … and with LiLo reaching the end of her stay at the clinic, the actress believes the staffer was looking for a final confrontation.

For once, it would be nice to hear Lindsay take responsibility for something. It’s entirely possible that this female staffer initiated physical contact first but it’s not so easy to believe when you consider that nothing that ever happens is Lindsay‘s fault. I doubt anything will come of this incident but … the whole matter is really disheartening. I don’t know that any of this sounds like Lindsay has learned much from her rehab stint. I’m amazed that Lindsay is allowed to leave rehab with a midnight curfew … are you kidding me? AND, she can’t even return in time for curfew??? It’s a shame that Lindsay‘s rehab stint is starting to look like a joke … cuz I was really starting to believe that she was getting better.

Should this assault case go before a judge, Lindsay could actually get sent back to jail. I HIGHLY doubt it will come to that but … ugh, what a dumb way to risk one’s freedom.

[Source, Source]