Brad Garrett Cleared of Paparazzi Smacking

Los Angeles prosecutors do not plan to charge the former Everybody Loves Raymond star for roughing up a paparazzo

By Josh Grossberg Dec 19, 2008 10:24 PMTags
Brad GarrettAP Photo/Peter Kramer

Brad Garrett is off the hook.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office confirms to E! News that the erstwhile Everybody Loves Raymond star will not face charges for a Nov. 11 incident in which he allegedly roughed up a heckling paparazzo outside the celeb-friendly eatery Dan Tana's.

In a document released by prosecutors, the D.A. puts most of the blame on the shutterbug, who "initiated contact...outside a West Hollywood restaurant" and then "attempted to provoke a violent reaction from [Garrett] by using hostile and derogatory language."

The comedian, who had repeatedly told photographers "that's enough" as they videotaped him in a parking lot, became increasingly frustrated and lashed out, pushing the offending paparazzo and slapping his camera.

Prosecutors acknowledged that while the Emmy winner and the photographer both made physical contact with each other, they believed the behavior was not enough to warrant a criminal case.

"In light of the surrounding circumstances, the interests of justice do not support the filing of criminal charges," the document stated.

A rep for Garrett could not be reached for comment.