Sutherland Resolves Head-Butt Affair

(AP)  Kiefer Sutherland and the fashion designer he's accused of head-butting at a Manhattan night club said Friday they resolved their differences, clearing the way for the charges to be dropped.

Sutherland and Jack McCollough issued a brief joint statement Friday to The Associated Press through Sutherland's attorney.

"I am sorry about what happened that night and sincerely regret that Mr. McCollough was injured," Sutherland said in the statement.

The star of Fox television's "24" was charged May 7 with third-degree assault in the alleged incident two weeks ago at a nightclub at the Mercer Hotel in the trendy SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. The minor charge is comparable to a speeding ticket.

A spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney's office declined to comment on whether the charges would be dismissed.

But now that Sutherland and McCollough say they have resolved their differences, a prosecutor may go before a judge and ask that the case be dropped. That could happen at Sutherland's next scheduled court appearance on June 22.

"I appreciate Mr. Sutherland's statement and wish him well," McCollough said in the statement.

McCollough, of the high-end Proenza Schouler fashion house, said Sutherland head-butted him and broke his nose after an argument. The two were out following the gala at the Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a fancy affair studded with celebrities.

The story spurred a media frenzy as a swarm of reporters gathered outside the 1st Precinct in Manhattan to watch as Sutherland arrived for questioning and was charged. Photographers also shadowed Sutherland and McCollough while rumors swirled about the nature of their altercation and what role, if any, actress Brooke Shields might have played.

Sutherland, who has won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his portrayal of dashing federal counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer on "24," pleaded no contest in October 2007 to driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

He served 30 days in jail, in addition to 18 days for violating probation in a 2004 drunken-driving arrest.

[hegivesmepeace]

praise God for forgiveness

[MalloryDavis]

OOOO Albert...tough guy or a wanna be...hmmmm your envy is showing pardner.

[hennighg]

Oh, crap. Another spoiled child of a movie star who got the inside track to an acting career acts like a spoiled child of a movie star. We're supposed to CARE? So it got resolved. So did OJ's murder case, and Robert Blake's, and on and on. Who thought this grown-up spoiled snot was in any trouble to begin with?

[erasmus111]

So what exactly happened ? We have yet to hear a credible account, other than speculative nonsense, that Brooke Shields was somehow involved in this afffair.


Posted by JackSteen12 at 3:29 PM : May 22, 2009

Geez, you mean you missed the CBS story where Brooke Shields was whining? She says that she wasn't involved in any way, and she can't understand how she became part of the story.

[novamba]

It's truly sad to see the actors who kids grow up in movieland and than become actors themselves act like spoiled brats. Most have no class that their parents have shown over the years.
Posted by stryker54 at 8:55 PM : May 22, 2009

Its even sadder to these untouchables get away with stuff the rest of us would get arrested charged and prosecuted for simply because they are celebrities. I like KS, but this double standard that our celebrities have become the happy recipients of is making me sick.

[Dgunner]

I guess if you are a tv and movie actor and the talent that generates money in your state you can get charges dropped. The state I live in the state picks up the charge automaticaaly no matter who you are.It is just better if there are no witnesses. The also have a make my day law . We consider EVErYBODY armed.This law has been in effect four ten years now. The home burgaly and theft has dropped over 80%.The mortality rate for break ins has dropped over 80%.Some where drug off to the mountains so we really don't have a baseline figure for convictions.

[longtree-2009]

kiefer looks older than his years in the photo. looks much younger on "24" but that's stage makeup no doubt.

[johndevinejr]

WOW, good thing he got out of that one. Now we are still safe. He has been keeping us safe since 9/11

.

[SteelersWinAgain]

If they bring back that no-talent, hair-brained Jeanine Garofalo back next season I will NOT be watching. She can't act. She's horrible. Furthermore, she offended the majority of taxpayers saying we don't know our history...regarding the Boston Tea Party, etc.

[adt13t]

korsakoffian nightmare coming to a torture wannabe posuer soon
wow another false confession
certainly not intelligence