Actor Kiefer Sutherland was arrested in Hollywood early Monday following an alleged altercation with a ride-share driver, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
An LAPD spokesperson told ABC News that officers arrested Sutherland, 59, just after midnight on Monday, January 12, in connection with an incident that reportedly occurred near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. Newsweek reached out to LAPD’s press office and to Kiefer Sutherland’s publicist for comment via email outside of their usual working hours.
According to police, Sutherland became involved in a dispute with a ride-share driver. He is accused of assaulting the driver. Authorities have identified Sutherland as the suspect in the incident, while the driver is the alleged victim. Representatives for Sutherland have not publicly commented on the arrest, and police have released no further information about the alleged incident.
LAPD Officer Kevin Terzes told NBC News that the driver did not sustain any injuries requiring medical treatment.
Sutherland was arrested on suspicion of making felony criminal threats. Under California law, criminal threats generally involve communicating a threat of serious harm or death that causes the alleged victim to reasonably fear for their safety.
Felony criminal threats can carry a potential sentence of up to three years in state prison under California law. Additional penalties may apply in certain circumstances, such as if a weapon is alleged to have been used.
Following his arrest, Sutherland posted $50,000 bond and was released from custody. He is scheduled to appear in court on February 2.
Sutherland is a veteran actor with a career spanning several decades in film and television. He is best known for his role as counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer in the long-running Fox series 24, a performance that earned him an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe. His film credits include The Lost Boys, A Few Good Men, Stand by Me, and Flatliners. In addition to acting, Sutherland has also pursued a music career, releasing several country and Americana albums.
Sutherland is the son of the late Donald Sutherland, a celebrated actor known for his roles in The Hunger Games, The Dirty Dozen, and numerous other films. Donald Sutherland died in June 2024 in Miami after a long illness.
At the time, Kiefer Sutherland paid tribute to his father in a post on X, writing, “With a heavy heart, I tell you that my father, Donald Sutherland, has passed away,” alongside a childhood photo of the two. “I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film… A life well lived.”
