Los Angeles police officers were on hand and prepared to arrest actor Will Smith at Sunday's Academy Awards for slapping presenter Chris Rock, the Hollywood ceremony's producer revealed on Thursday.

The authorities took no action against Rock since he chose not to press charges, producer Will Packer said, reiterating a police spokesperson's statement on Sunday.

"They were saying, you know, this is battery, was a word they used in that moment," Packer said in excerpts from an interview that will appear on ABC's "Good Morning America." on Friday.

"They stated that they would go after him. We are ready. We are prepared to apprehend him immediately "Packer was also added.

Smith marched out to the stage during the live Oscars broadcast and struck Rock after Rock made a joke about Smith's wife's appearance.

Smith delivered a heartfelt speech on stage less than an hour later as he won the best actor award for his work in "King Richard."

Police were debating alternatives with Rock behind the scenes, Packer added.

'Rock' "was being really disdainful of those alternatives. 'No, no, no, I'm alright,' he said. And even to the point where I said, 'Rock, give them a chance to finish.'" Packer was also added.

Rock's representatives did not reply quickly to a request for comment.

Smith issued an apology to Rock, producers, and viewers on Monday, stating that he had "reacted emotionally" continue reading.

Rock's joke regarding Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, referred to Demi Moore's shaved head in the 1997 film "G.I. Jane" It was unknown whether Rock was aware that Jada Pinkett Smith suffered from a hair loss condition.

A police official said Sunday night that the individual involved had declined to seek charges but did not elaborate on the incident's contents.