Hollywood actor Kiefer Sutherland has been arrested in Los Angeles following a tense late-night altercation with a rideshare driver — an incident that has quickly sent shockwaves through the entertainment world.
The 59-year-old star was taken into custody shortly after midnight on Monday after police responded to reports of an assault involving a rideshare driver near the busy intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. According to officers, Sutherland allegedly became involved in a heated confrontation inside the vehicle, during which he is accused of assaulting the driver before making threats serious enough to spark fear.
Police later confirmed that Sutherland was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats, a felony charge typically applied when a person is accused of threatening to kill or cause serious bodily harm. Officers noted that while the incident was alarming, the driver did not suffer any injuries requiring medical treatment at the scene.
Sutherland was booked at the Hollywood division of the Los Angeles Police Department at around 4:23 a.m. before being released later that morning on a $50,000 bond. An initial court hearing has been scheduled for February 2, as detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Representatives for the actor have so far declined to comment.
A troubled past resurfaces
The arrest has also reignited scrutiny over Sutherland’s past run-ins with the law. In 2007, he pleaded no contest to driving under the influence after failing a field sobriety test, a conviction that led to a 48-day jail sentence due to a prior DUI. Two years later, he was arrested for assault following a high-profile incident involving fashion designer Jack McCollough, although those charges were eventually dropped after a public apology.
Despite these controversies, Sutherland has enjoyed one of the most enduring careers in Hollywood. He remains best known for his iconic role as counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer in the hit Fox series 24, a show that redefined TV drama with its real-time storytelling and became a cultural phenomenon in the post-9/11 era.
Off screen, Sutherland is also the eldest son of the late screen legend Donald Sutherland, who passed away in June 2024 aged 88 — a loss that deeply affected the actor and his family.
As the legal process unfolds, fans and critics alike are now watching closely to see how this latest scandal could impact one of Hollywood’s most recognisable faces.
