Kiefer Sutherland, can drink with an clear conscious tonight after assault charges that stemmed from headbutting a fashion designer have been dropped. And we were hoping to be spared another mediocre season of 24 while he was in the slammer.

The Daily News reports that the charges were dropped after an investigation because Proenza Schouler co-designer Jack McCollough, who found himself on the business end of Keifer's forehead, was being uncooperative.

"We declined to prosecute after a full investigation, including talking to the complaining witness who was quite uncooperative," a spokeswoman for District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said.

McCollough had his nose broken in the altercation, which was spurned on because Sutherland did not like the way McCollough was treating Brook Shields. This was just like the time on 24 when Jack Bauer's daughter was stuck in a trap and being attacked by a mountain lion, except Shields has more acting talent than the daughter, and McCollough is not nearly as fierce as a lion.

Yes, he may have gotten off scot-free, but his reputation is not untarnished. After all, how macho is it to beat up on fashion designers? That's kind of like beating up a 14-year-old girl with glasses.