Sutherland assault charge dropped

Kiefer Sutherland is the son of actor Donald and plays Jack Bauer in 24

Assault charges brought against actor Kiefer Sutherland after he allegedly head-butted a fashion designer in May have been dropped.

A New York district attorney office spokeswoman said it would not pursue criminal charges against the 24 star.

Sutherland, 42, turned himself in to police after claims he attacked Jack McCollough in a Manhattan nightclub.

He and McCollough subsequently released a joint statement saying they had settled their differences.

McCollough had previously claimed that Sutherland broke his nose at nightclub SubMercer in the early hours of 5 May.

According to the district attorney's spokeswoman, however, the case could not continue because the actor's alleged victim would not co-operate with prosecutors.

Probation

Sutherland allegedly took issue with McCollough after the designer bumped into actress Brooke Shields.

The actor, best known for his role as driven government agent Jack Bauer in 24, is currently on probation over a drink-driving conviction.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney's office said on Tuesday the alleged altercation was not serious enough to violate the actor's probation.

In the joint statement, released in May, Sutherland said he was "sorry about what happened" and that he "sincerely regretted that Mr McCollough was injured".

Speaking in May, a lawyer for Brooke Shields said the actress was friends with both parties and called the situation "unfortunate".