The confrontation occurred outside a restaurant in West Hollywood. The former "Everybody Loves Raymond" actor, who more recently starred in the Fox sitcom "'Til Death," was not arrested.
A charge evaluation report released Friday by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office says the paparazzo used "hostile and derogatory language" to try to provoke a violent outburst.
The report states that the 48-year-old Garrett pushing the photographer amounted to minimal contact and "the interests of justice" do not support pursuing a misdemeanor battery charge.