Sutherland charged with assault in N.Y.

NEW YORK, May 7 (UPI) -- British-born Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland has been charged with misdemeanor assault in connection with an alleged altercation in Manhattan.

Fashion designer Jack McCollough reportedly has accused Sutherland, the star of the popular TV series "24," of head-butting him after a verbal altercation.

The incident allegedly happened early Tuesday morning in a Manhattan nightclub.

Published reports said Sutherland lost his temper when McCollough collided with actress Brooke Shields and failed to apologize.

People.com said Sutherland turned himself in to police Thursday afternoon and was charged with misdemeanor assault before he was photographed, fingerprinted and released. Sutherland is expected to appear before a Manhattan Criminal Court judge to answer the charge within a month.

Sutherland served jail time in 2007-08 for his second drunk driving conviction.

Los Angeles authorities told People.com they are looking into whether the actor violated his probation in the drunk driving case.