Actor Kiefer Sutherland has been arrested following an early morning incident in Hollywood, where he is suspected of making criminal threats during an alleged assault on a rideshare driver.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to a call around 12:15 a.m. on January 12, 2026, near Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue.
The 59-year-old actor reportedly entered a rideshare vehicle, physically assaulted the driver, and issued threats.
While the driver did not sustain injuries requiring medical attention, detectives detained Sutherland at the scene.
He was later booked into the LAPD jail and released the same day on a Sh6.45 million ($50,000) bail.
Sutherland, best known for his portrayal of counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer in the TV series 24, has had a long career in Hollywood, with notable roles in The Lost Boys and Flatliners.
He has earned an Emmy and a Golden Globe and recently appeared in the Netflix series Rabbit Hole as well as voice work in The Wheel of Time.
The incident revives memories of Sutherland’s previous legal troubles, many linked to alcohol. He was arrested for DUI in 2004 and again in 2007, serving 48 days in jail after pleading no contest.
In 2009, he was involved in a head-butting incident with a fashion designer, which was settled out of court, and he faced additional minor incidents in the 1990s.
Social media users have expressed concern, debating whether alcohol may have been a factor.
Legal experts note that in California, felony criminal threats can carry a prison sentence of up to three years.
First-time offenders, however, often receive probation.