A man accusing former NBA star Scottie Pippen of spitting in his face and knocking him unconscious during an altercation in June is lacking sufficient evidence to prosecute.
Reuters reports that police in Malibu, Calif., questioned the 47-year-old Pippen outside the Nobu eatery. His accuser, Camran Shafighi, claimed that Pippen would not take a photograph with him while Pippen and his family were dining in the restaurant, a Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office report said.
Shafighi told police he approached Pippen later in the parking lot outside the restaurant, and the former seven-time All-Star of the Chicago Bulls spit in his face, punched him in the mouth, knocked him to the ground and then kicked his face.
The final act, Shafighi claimed, left him unconscious.
Pippen countered, telling police that Shafighi spit at him first and he retaliated. Pippen then pushed Shafighi. Shafighi fell backward and started kicking at Pippen, according to the prosecutor's report.
Pippen raised his foot to block the kicks, he said.
USA TODAY Sports added that Shafighi, who has filed a $4 million lawsuit against Pippen, was taken to a hospital with a possible concussion. All tests showed there was no internal trauma, but Shafighi returned to the hospital later and told doctors he had been diagnosed with fractured ribs and ankle. The only visible physical injuries were a small bruise on Shafighi's chin and a cut to his lip.
According to Reuters, "insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt" existed that Pippen was guilty of committing a crime against Shafighi, the District Attorney's Office report said.
Shafighi, who was hospitalized after the scuffle, had a blood alcohol content of 0.18, which was more than twice the legal limit for driving, according to the report.
Reuters added that Shafighi displayed an "absolute lack of physical injuries" that would be expect from the pain Shafighi told investigators that Pippen inflicted on him. Shafighi's behavior at the hospital was described by a physician as "feigning non-existent injuries inflicted by a celebrity suspect," the prosecutors report said.
Shafighi's attorney did not return calls seeking comment.
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