Giants CEO avoids criminal charges after viral public altercation with wife

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office will not charge Giants CEO Larry Baer in connection with a video of a physical altercation involving Baer and his wife released earlier this month, prosecutors said Wednesday.

The video, which surfaced on March 1, showed Baer appearing to grab a phone from his wife as she tumbled to the ground, screaming. The altercation happened in the city’s Hayes Valley neighborhood.

In a statement, District Attorney’s Office spokesman Alex Bastian said:

“After a careful review of the relevant evidence, including multiple video, statements from several witness and the parties themselves, the evidence does not support filing criminal charges.”

The day the video surfaced, Baer immediately issued a statement apologizing for his actions, saying:

“It is not reflective of the kind of person that I aspire to be, but it happened, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure that I never behave in such an inappropriate manner again.”

Days later, Giants team officials announced Baer would take a leave of absence, with the Giants executive team stepping in to manage day-to-day operations of the franchise.

In the aftermath of the video’s release, Mayor London Breed and members of various public agencies and other organizations, including the city’s Department on the Status of Women, the BART Board of Directors, La Casa De Las Madres, and the San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium, among others, have called for more accountability within Major League Baseball.

Breed said Monday:

“Major League Baseball needs to send a message that any and all acts of violence against women is unacceptable. … We are a city that loves and supports our San Francisco Giants, and that means holding our organization and its leaders to the highest standards. Every little girl, every woman should be able to attend a Giants game with a clear sense of the organization’s values.”

The group has asked MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for stronger public reprimand of violent behavior, particularly when it involves an owner or CEO. It’s also seeking significant suspension for such behavior; substantial financial penalties; and the requirement to complete professional treatment for incidents involving domestic violence and physical abuse.