Police say the actor assaulted and threatened a ride-share driver during a late-night incident in Hollywood
Actor Kiefer Sutherland has been arrested in Los Angeles following allegations that he assaulted and threatened a ride-share driver during a late-night incident in Hollywood, according to police.
The Los Angeles Police Department said officers responded to reports of an assault at around 12:15 am local time on Monday at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. Police allege that Sutherland entered a ride-share vehicle and became involved in an altercation with the driver shortly after getting inside.
In a statement, police said the actor physically assaulted the driver and made criminal threats during the encounter. The driver, described by police as the victim, was not injured during the incident.
Sutherland, who is 59, was taken into custody by officers from the LAPD’s Hollywood Division. He was later released after posting a bond set at $50,000. Authorities confirmed that he is scheduled to appear in court on 2 February.
The incident remains under investigation, and police have not released further details about what led to the confrontation inside the vehicle. Officers have not disclosed whether alcohol or other factors played a role in the alleged assault.
The BBC has contacted representatives for Sutherland but has not received a response at the time of publication.
Sutherland is a well-known Canadian actor with a long career in film and television. He is best known for his role as counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer in the television series 24, a performance that made him a household name. He later portrayed a fictional US president in the political drama Designated Survivor.
He is also the son of the late actor Donald Sutherland, whose career spanned more than five decades across Hollywood and international cinema.
This is not the first time Sutherland has faced legal trouble. In 2007, he was sentenced to 48 days in jail after being convicted of driving under the influence and violating probation. The sentence followed multiple alcohol-related driving offences.
Two years later, in 2009, he was arrested on suspicion of assault, though the charge was ultimately dropped. In 2020, he was arrested again following an illegal U-turn in Hollywood, though that incident did not involve allegations of violence.
Police have not indicated whether the current case is connected to any previous incidents. They confirmed only that the alleged assault is being treated as a standalone investigation.
The arrest has sent shockwaves through Hollywood, where Sutherland has maintained a high-profile presence both on and off screen for decades. News of the alleged incident spread quickly after police confirmed the arrest, drawing attention because of the actor’s long-standing public image and past legal history.
Authorities have urged anyone with information related to the incident to contact the LAPD’s Hollywood Division as the investigation continues. Further details are expected to emerge once the case reaches court.
For now, Sutherland remains free on bond as he awaits his upcoming court appearance, where the allegations will be formally addressed.