Kiefer Sutherland charged with assault

Actor Kiefer Sutherland was today charged over an alleged head-butting incident in a New York bar.

The 24 star handed himself in to police in lower Manhattan to be questioned in relation to claims that he attacked fashion designer Jack McCollough in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A spokeswoman for New York Police Department said that Sutherland was subsequently charged with misdemeanour assault.

The 42-year-old actor is currently on probation over a drink drive conviction in California.

Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the Los Angeles City Attorney, said prosecutors were checking with New York investigators to see if the latest incident puts him in violation of his probation.

The alleged attack took place at SubMercer nightclub in New York's fashionable SoHo district at around 2am.

Mr McCollough, of the Proenza Schouler fashion house, claims he was head-butted following an argument with Sutherland. The designer was left with a cut on the nose, but refused medical attention.

Reports in the US have suggested Sutherland confronted the designer after he bumped into actress Brooke Shields.

A police report of the incident suggests the argument broke out as Mr McCollough walked between the pair on the way to the bar. Police have said they may question Shields over the incident.

Sutherland arrived at the police precinct today with his lawyers, but declined to speak to reporters.

It is not the first time Sutherland - who plays the lead role of Jack Bauer in the popular action series 24 - has got into trouble with the law.

Last year he served 48 days in prison following a 2007 drink-driving charge in Los Angeles.