Brooke Shields is fuming after she discovered that her dementia stricken mother was signed out of a nursing home by a pair of National Enquirer "journalists" who were seeking a scoop, the actress said.
Cops were called to the New Jersey assisted living center Thursday after Teri Shields, 75, left with the team and did not return after "an extended period of time" Old Tappan Police Department Capt. Thomas Shine told People Magazine.
"Our officer located her with some form of a journalist, I think a freelance journalist, in an eatery right next door," Shine said. "She wasn't harmed in any way shape or form. She was fine. The officers discussed the circumstances with her. And she literally walked with one of my officers next door to the assisted living center."
Shine said the incident was under investigation and no charges had been filed -- but Brooke Shields fired off a statement promising action against the scribes she identified as agents of the notorious supermarket tabloid.
"I intend to take every lawful action against all who were involved or who authorized this despicable act," she said in a statement to People."My mother Teri Shields has been diagnosed with dementia. For her safety, she has temporarily been in a senior living facility, a very difficult decision for me."
The former Calvin Klein model said the reporter and his photographer falsely claimed to be friends of her mother to get her out of the center and then "drove [her]...around looking for a tabloid story."
"The idea that the National Enquirer took advantage of her state is reprehensible and disgusting," Brooke Shields said.
Shine, the cop, said responding officers interviewed the reporter and photographer who appeared to be "familiar to" the elder Shields.
"The part we're investigating here is who allowed her to leave the facility," Shine told People. "It appears that there were some permissions that were given for Mrs. Shields by the family, be they written, be they verbal – we're investigating – to allow her visitation for a variety of different reasons."
While criminal charges seem unlikely in the case, the incident does confirm that the truth challenged tabloid is kind of scummy.
The National Enquirer did not respond to People's request for comment.
