a gay dad punched the fake cnn guy who asked about his baby. no charges. we'll allow it.

via the Los Angeles Times and WEHOonline

Ryley Niemi told the Los Angeles Times he asked the question because "they brought their baby out to the gay clubs at 9 p.m."

The question, from his own video of the April encounter on Santa Monica Boulevard, was: "Have you ever heard about the statistics coming out that gay men are much more likely to commit child molestation?" According to Vulin, he had introduced himself as a reporter with CNN. He is not one. The two men he asked were David and Anthony Vulin, out with their infant son, Ante.

why there are no charges

On Thursday, David Vulin's attorney, R.J. Dreiling, said Vulin had completed the terms of a "pre-filing diversion" agreement with the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, and a spokeswoman for the DA confirmed to the Times that criminal charges will not be filed. WEHOonline reports the same. Dreiling said a Superior Court judge also agreed to seal the records of the arrest. He would not discuss the terms.

Vulin had been arrested by the Sheriff's Department on suspicion of battery and vandalism. Niemi's footage shows Vulin shove him, then, a few blocks later after a second confrontation, punch him in the head several times, the Times reports. Niemi says he got a concussion and a broken camera. The Times also notes the video never shows him hitting either father. WEHOonline, which interviewed the couple two days after it happened, reports they had gone to the West Hollywood sheriff's station for help, were told it sounded like a possible hate crime, and then watched David get handcuffed. He spent about 12 hours in custody.

what happens now

Niemi told the Times he "walked away 500 feet" and may still file a civil suit. The Vulins said in a statement that they were relieved, and disappointed that "the person who provoked this encounter with hate speech then filmed and monetized it, faces no consequences." Anthony, they said, is working with state legislators on a bill aimed at "rage-bait creators."

For the record, the baby was not at a gay club. WEHOonline says he was in Anthony's arms on the family's usual evening walk. Easy mistake, if you have never been on a sidewalk in West Hollywood.