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Man Claims NBA Star Bryant Injured Him At Local Church

Lakers Star Was Attending Service At St. Therese of Carmel On Sunday

According to police, Bryant took the phone from Hagos, did not see any pictures on the phone and then left the church.

Hagos claims he injured his wrist in the incident and had to go to the hospital for treatment. In a police report he filed, Hagos said he suffered a sprained wrist.

Parishioner Marsha Murphy told 10News she attended the 11 a.m. mass at St. Therese of Carmel on Sunday. She said she saw Bryant standing in the back of the church while his wife sat in the pews.

Murphy said she did not see any physical encounter between Bryant and another parishioner.

"I saw people, you know, being giddy and kind of excited that he was there, mostly men who were like, 'Wow, it's Kobe Bryant,' but I didn't see any inappropriateness," said Murphy.

On Tuesday, 10News tried to speak to Hagos at his home, but he was not available.

Many people 10News spoke to said they were not sure if they believe the allegations, but most agreed people should not be taking pictures at church.

"Sometimes you can flare up, lose your temper. I've done it myself and maybe you snatch the phone from somebody, so I don't blame him [Bryant]," said Carmel Valley resident Nigel Mallett.

Parishioner Theodora Furtado said, "I think he has a right to his privacy, and if he doesn't want his pictures taken then we need to respect that as well."

"I feel bad for Kobe ... he seemed content, he seemed reverent, there was nothing unusual," said Murphy. "I didn't even see anybody trying to speak with him, even during the sign of the peace. I didn't see anybody try to make contact with him."

Murphy said after Bryant's wife got up to take communion, they calmly left the church together.

"They both dipped hands in baptismal font, crossed themselves and they both exited," said Murphy. "When I looked out, they were the only two people I saw in the parking lot."

Police said they are continuing their investigation into the man's claims, and one parishioner said police have interviewed church staff members about the incident.

John Black, spokesman for the Los Angeles Lakers, told 10News he could not comment on the incident because of the NBA player lockout.

On Tuesday evening, Bryant's lawyer, Mark Campbell, told TMZ his client is "aware of the baseless allegations asserted against him, and is prepared to defend against them fully."

Police said they want to talk to Hagos before they speak with Bryant, but investigators said Hagos is not making himself available for a week.