Kiefer Sutherland to face charge in scuffle

New York, May 07: Television star Kiefer Sutherland will face a minor assault charge after a scuffle earlier this week in which he reportedly headbutted another man, according to a media report on Wednesday. Citing an unnamed law enforcement source, the New York Daily News said Sutherland, who is already serving five years probation for an unrelated drunken driving charge in Los Angeles, would surrender to New York police as early as Thursday and face a misdemeanor assault charge following the reported attack on fashion designer Jack McCollough. A spokeswoman for the New York Police Department told Reuters the star of hit TV show "24" had not been arrested or charged, but that it was likely he would be charged with a minor assault. She had no further information. A representative for the actor was not immediately available to comment. According to media reports, McCollough says that at a Monday night party after an annual costume gala held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sutherland headbutted him, causing the fashion designer to bleed. Reports say McCollough had bumped into actress Brooke Shields at the party, but did not apologize. So, Sutherland approached him. A criminal charge, even a minor one, could have harsh consequences for the 42-year-old actor, who plays tough-minded special agent Jack Bauer on the TV thriller "24." He was arrested in 2007 for drunken driving in Los Angeles and served 48 days in a Southern California jail. At the time of his arrest, Sutherland was on probation for a previous drunken driving violation. Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney`s Office, said Los Angeles officials will contact New York detectives to learn details of their investigation and decide if Sutherland violated his probation. "If we can establish that there was a violation of the probation, then it would be up to a judge to levy whatever penalties are appropriate," Mateljan said, adding that more jail time could be possible. Mateljan said that under the terms of his probation, Sutherland is required to "obey all laws." Bureau Report