No Charges Against San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer For Altercation With Wife
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The San Francisco District Attorney's Office said Tuesday it would not file charges against Giants CEO Larry Baer following a physical altercation with his wife which was caught on camera.
Baer was placed on leave by the team after the release of the video, which shows Baer standing over his wife of nearly 30 years, Pam, as she's seated and grappling with her over a cellphone, which sends her tumbling to the ground.
Baer apologized and took a leave of absence from the team following the confrontation. Major League Baseball said it would investigate the incident.
Max Szabo, a spokesman for District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement Tuesday, "After a careful review of the relevant evidence, including multiple videos, statements from several witnesses and the parties themselves, the evidence does not support filing criminal charges."
On Monday, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and domestic violence victim advocates called on MLB to suspend Baer for the incident. A spokesman for the mayor said Tuesday she stands by her previous statement and reiterated that the league "needs to send a clear message that violence against women is not acceptable in any way."
The Giants declined to comment in response to the DA's decision, saying it would wait until MLB completed its review of the case.
Domestic violence victims advocate Kathy Black says she respects the DA's decision, but still believes the league should sanction and even fine Baer because the incident violates the league's policies on "physical altercations."
"Perception is: he's a rich owner, he might get away with whatever, right? And I think there's a danger to that," said Black.
Andrea Shorter, part of a newly formed group called "Do What's Right MLB," also wants Baer to face some sort of punishment.
"It is about what sort of message, what sort of consequences... and what sort of leadership and accountability can we expect moving forward. What can the MLB do? And we are asking, challenging, and supporting that they do what's right," said Shorter.