Police in Illinois have officially closed their investigation into Hollywood actress Tara Reid's claims that her drink was spiked at a hotel bar last November, stating there is insufficient evidence to proceed.
Investigation Reaches a Dead End
The Rosemont Police Department confirmed to outlet TMZ on Wednesday that the case has been shelved. The key factor was the lack of a chemical test after the 'American Pie' star was rushed to hospital. Authorities emphasised they are not declaring Reid's claims false, but rather that they have hit a dead end with no new evidence to examine.
Reid, 50, alleged she was drugged by a stranger after having just one drink at a hotel in Rosemont, near Chicago's O'Hare airport, on November 23. She was subsequently taken from the venue on a stretcher and hospitalised.
Reid's Response and Media Scrutiny
In a statement to Us Weekly last week, Reid expressed feeling 'judged and bullied' following the police's initial announcement about the lack of evidence. 'I've been honest about the fact that I don't remember anything after my first drink,' she stated. Reid described waking up in a hospital gown with no memory of how she got there, insisting that drinking wine alone could not explain an 11-hour hospital stay.
The actress criticised the media for twisting her words and said the public scrutiny was severely affecting her mental health, making her afraid to leave her house. She has asked for 'privacy, compassion and space to heal.'
What the Police and Footage Revealed
Police reviewed surveillance footage from the hotel but reported it did not show anyone tampering with Reid's beverage. They did confirm a bartender covered her drink with a napkin when she left the bar area, which they noted is standard practice.
In footage obtained by TMZ, Reid appeared incoherent and slipped off a wheelchair in the hotel lobby before paramedics escorted her on a stretcher. In her original police report, Reid said she had been with a group of YouTubers and found the situation suspicious as many had their phones out. She recalled seeing a napkin on her drink upon returning to the bar, and then blacking out.
The Rosemont Public Safety Department's final position is clear: 'At this time there is no criminal act that has been committed and there is no one we are currently investigating.' However, they have left the door open, stating the case will be reopened if additional evidence emerges.
