Actor Kiefer Sutherland was arrested early Mon., Jan. 12, after an alleged confrontation with a ride-hail driver near Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in Hollywood, according to police. Officers said the driver reported an assault just after 12:15 a.m., and Sutherland was taken into custody without incident.
Police said the case centers on whether words spoken inside the car rose to criminal threats, a charge that can be filed as a misdemeanor or a felony in California. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division is leading the investigation. Sutherland, known for “24” and “Designated Survivor,” posted a $50,000 bond later Monday and is due in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Feb. 2. The driver did not require medical treatment at the scene. Representatives for Sutherland did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Officers were dispatched around 12:15 a.m. Monday after a radio call about an assault involving a ride-hail driver at the busy Sunset–Fairfax intersection, where late-night traffic is common. Police said the investigation “determined that the suspect … entered a rideshare vehicle … and made criminal threats toward the victim.” The statement also said the suspect physically assaulted the driver; investigators noted the driver declined treatment at the scene. Detectives interviewed both parties, documented the car and surrounding area and collected preliminary statements. Sutherland, 59, was booked on suspicion of criminal threats, a violation of state law that hinges on whether a threat could reasonably cause fear for one’s safety, authorities said.
Officials have not released a detailed narrative of the minutes inside the vehicle. Law enforcement sources cited by entertainment outlets said the dispute escalated when the passenger demanded the driver stop the car; one account said the passenger allegedly told the driver to pull over or he would kill him. Police have not confirmed the exact wording of any remarks, and no audio or video from the encounter has been publicly released. The LAPD said the driver “did not sustain any injuries requiring medical treatment,” and officers recovered no weapon at the scene. Detectives said they are reviewing dispatch audio, canvassing nearby businesses for surveillance footage and checking for possible dashcam video from the vehicle.
Sutherland’s arrest drew attention in part because of his past legal issues. Court and media records show a series of alcohol-related offenses dating back to 1989, including DUI cases in 1993, 2004 and 2007. In 2007, while on probation, he pleaded no contest to driving under the influence and served 48 days in jail. In 2009, he was arrested in New York after a red carpet head-butting incident involving designer Jack McCollough; those charges were later dropped following a public apology. The Hollywood arrest Monday is the first high-profile case involving the actor in several years, and police have not said alcohol played a role in the latest incident.
California’s criminal-threats statute covers verbal or electronic statements that convey a specific and immediate threat of serious harm, causing a reasonable person to fear for safety. Prosecutors typically weigh the wording used, the context, whether the target believed the threat and any corroborating evidence such as witness statements, recordings or body-camera footage. Even when no physical injuries are reported, a credible threat can support charges. Police said detectives are compiling a minute-by-minute timeline using interviews, patrol reports and any available video. Authorities also noted the investigation is in its early stages, and additional counts—such as misdemeanor battery—could be considered if evidence supports them.
On Monday, officers booked Sutherland into an LAPD facility and later released him after he posted bond. Jail logs listed a criminal-threats allegation with a $50,000 bail amount. The case file will be forwarded to prosecutors for review ahead of a Feb. 2 court date, when initial charging decisions are expected. If a felony complaint is filed, a judge could set a schedule leading to a preliminary hearing to test probable cause. If prosecutors pursue a misdemeanor, diversion or other alternatives sometimes enter discussions at early hearings. Defense attorneys in similar cases often argue that words can be misheard in a moving car or mistranslated, issues investigators attempt to address by recording interviews and obtaining any audio that may exist.
The scene Monday was a familiar crossroads bordered by music venues, storefronts and bright signage. Workers arriving for early shifts described flashing patrol lights and a brief closure of a curb lane as officers took statements. A convenience store clerk on Fairfax Avenue said detectives asked about overnight camera footage. “They wanted video from just after midnight,” the clerk said, describing how officers noted the view toward the intersection. A ride-hail driver who queued nearby around dawn said the location sees heavy weekend traffic. “It gets hectic after midnight when the bars close,” the driver said.
By late week, police had not released body-camera video or a more detailed timeline of the encounter, and the driver’s name had not been made public. No civil complaint or restraining order had appeared in court records. Industry colleagues contacted by reporters either declined comment or said they were awaiting more information. Sutherland, a Canadian-born actor and the son of the late actor Donald Sutherland, remains free while the Hollywood Division continues its review. The next milestone is the scheduled appearance on Mon., Feb. 2, when prosecutors are expected to outline how they plan to proceed.
Author note: Last updated January 17, 2026.