The Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland of 24 fame has been arrested after allegedly assaulting a ride-share driver. The incident reportedly occurred in Los Angeles just after midnight on Monday, January 12.
Sutherland Arrested
LAPD officer Kevin Terzes told People Magazine that officers were called to the scene near Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Hollywood. They ultimately arrested Sutherland, 59.
“On January 12, around 12:15 a.m., officers from the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a radio call regarding an assault involving a rideshare driver near Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue,” Terzes said. “The investigation determined that the suspect, later identified as Kiefer Sutherland, entered a rideshare vehicle, physically assaulted the driver (the victim), and made criminal threats toward the victim.”
Terzes went on to say that Sutherland was arrested for “Criminal Threats, in violation of California Penal Code section 422.”
The alleged victim of the assault “did not sustain any injuries requiring medical treatment at the scene,” according to Terzes.
Sutherland’s Chilling Threat
TMZ has since learned that Sutherland told the police that he called for an Uber Black after having a late dinner with friends on Sunday night. He told the driver to take him to his home.
At some point during the ride, Sutherland became enraged over something that is unknown at this time. Sutherland demanded the driver pull over and let him out, but the driver refused. Sutherland proceeded to ask to be let out two more times, but to know avail.
Finally, Sutherland allegedly threatened to kill the driver if he did not pull over immediately. It’s then that the driver alleges that Sutherland used his hands to assault him. The driver pulled over at around 12:15am and quickly called 911.
The issue at hand may have been a language barrier. Indeed, the driver spoke Russian or Armenian, and he requested a translator when police arrived on the scene.
Jail records show that Sutherland was arrested and booked into jail at around 4am. He was released about seven hours later on a $50,000 bond. Sutherland is next set to appear in court on February 2 at Los Angeles County Superior court.
At the time of this writing, the LAPD’s Hollywood Division is still investigating this incident.
Sutherland’s Past Legal Troubles
Though this is Sutherland’s first arrest in over a decade, it’s not his first run-in with the law.
Sutherland has a string of DUI charges dating back to 1989. In September of 2007, he was arrested in West Los Angeles after making an illegal U-turn. He subsequently failed a field sobriety test. At the time, Sutherland was on probation for a 2004 drunken driving arrest.
Sutherland pleaded no contest to the new DUI charge, which was his fourth. He ended up serving 48 days in jail for this.
“I’m very disappointed in myself for the poor judgment I exhibited,” Sutherland said after entering his plea in that case. “And I’m deeply sorry for the disappointment and distress this has caused my family, friends and coworkers.”
Two years later, in 2009, Sutherland was hit with misdemeanor charges over an alleged altercation involving Proenza Schouler designer Jack McCollough. The renowned fashion designer claimed that Sutherland head-butted him in the nose at a hotel bar in SoHo. McCollough was left with a “small laceration” after the alleged assault.
After a full investigation, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office dropped the charges against Sutherland in July of 2009. Sutherland and McCollough then issued a joint statement in which the actor apologized.
Sutherland’s Hollywood Career
Sutherland is the son of the late great actor Donald Sutherland, who died in 2024 at the age of 88. The younger Sutherland got his start in Hollywood playing heartthrob roles in the 1980s. His career really took off in the 2000s with his hit show 24, which ran from 2001 until 2010. Sutherland won two Emmys and one Golden Globe for his work on the thriller drama.
Sutherland has compiled over 114 film and television credits to his name, according to his IMDB page. He most recently starred alongside Rebel Wilson in the Christmas movie Tinsel Town, which came out in November. Check out a trailer for that film below.
At the time of this writing, Sutherland has yet to comment publicly on his latest arrest. It will certainly be interesting to see how this turns out for him.