US News

A ‘FREE PASS’ FOR MARY-KATE

NYPD officials inexplicably dropped plans yesterday to interview Heath Ledger’s diminutive dish Mary-Kate Olsen about frantic phone calls she received from the masseuse who found the actor dead.

An unimpeachable source told The Post Thursday that probers wanted to hear Olsen’s version of events. But after yesterday’s front-page scoop, top police brass denied the report in unattributed remarks to other media outlets.

At no time did NYPD officials ask The Post to issue a correction.

“We confirmed this story with an impeccable source inside the NYPD, and we stand by our reporting,” said Post editor-in-chief Col Allan.

Questions loom over whether the Police Department came under pressure from Olsen’s considerable legal machine.

“Almost immediately after the tragic passing of Mr. Ledger, Ms. Olsen’s attorneys began e-mailing us threatening messages,” Allan said. “As has been well reported, there were numerous calls to Ms. Olsen from the masseuse before the NYPD arrived on the scene. We would find it strange if Ms. Olsen was not questioned at all.

“The New York Post will not be pressured, and we find it odd that the chiefs at the NYPD appear to be terrified of 4-foot-11 inch, 90-pound Mary Kate Olsen.”

When asked whether the Police Department had any contact with Olsen or her legal attack dogs, police spokesman Detective Brian Sessa said only: “We don’t know.”

The department’s about-face shocked veteran law enforcement officials, who said that interviewing Olsen was something straight out of Investigation 101 – especially considering that toxicology reports are still pending.

“For them to say they are not doing this [interviewing Olsen] is ridiculous,” said retired NYPD homicide investigator Vernon Geberth, and author of “Practical Homicide Investigation.”

“If you are telling me that the Police Department is not going to interview Mary-Kate Olsen, they are making a major, major mistake.”

After news of the 28-year-old Ledger’s shocking death Tuesday, reporters tried to contact Olsen’s attorney regarding phone calls from the masseuse to the “Full House” star.

There were reports that the masseuse called the star three times before contacting the authorities – and one time afterwards – and that Olsen told her she was sending her own private security to help.

Olsen’s attorney, Michael Miller, immediately responded that if a reporter were to write “anything that is false or defamatory about Mary-Kate Olsen in connection with Heath Ledger’s death, you and the New York Post will be sued.”

Miller would not comment yesterday.

Through her publicist, Olsen commented for the first time yesterday since Ledger’s death – but avoided her role in the drama.

“Heath was a friend. His death is a tragic loss. My thoughts are with his family during this very difficult time,” she said.

Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne told The Post that since the masseuse, the security guards and the maid cooperated with authorities, there was no need to interview Olsen.

While the NYPD declined to interview the rich and famous waif, there are questions that simply cannot be ignored:

* Why would Olsen not immediately tell the masseuse to call 911?

* What possible role could a trio of security guards – one with a pistol license – have in the medical emergency?

* Were any of the guards qualified to administer CPR?

There was a nine-minute lag between when the masseuse, Diane Lee Wolozin, first discovered Ledger’s body and when she called 911. In that time, she called Olsen three times.

“Heath is unconscious. I don’t know what to do,” Wolozin screamed in her first call at 3:17 p.m.

Olsen replied, “I’m sending my private security there.”

philip.messing@nypost.com