Kiefer Sutherland's Rideshare Case Takes Another Police Turn

Kiefer Sutherland's legal ordeal has taken a step backwards after the case finally made it to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

The "24" star became embroiled in a shocking case in January 2026 after he was accused of physically assaulting a rideshare driver. Eyewitnesses noted that he appeared inebriated during the alleged incident.

Kiefer Sutherland's recent assault case marks one of many drunk-related incidents in his record. He received a 48-day prison sentence in 2007 for driving while under the influence.

According to new reports, Sutherland's assault case cannot proceed in court until authorities do a better job at investigating. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office confirmed the update on Monday, February 2, noting:

"The case was sent back to law enforcement for further investigation this morning."

The announcement comes days after prosecutors revealed police had given them the case involving Sutherland and a rideshare driver. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office also told The Daily Mail that Sutherland skipped his scheduled court appearance on Monday because "a case was not filed."

Last month, The Blast covered Sutherland's legal drama, reporting that he was accused of physically assaulting a rideshare driver. The altercation between the pair occurred near Hollywood, around Sunset Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue.

Sutherland allegedly punched and tried to choke the driver after getting into his vehicle without consent. The man escaped the assault by running away and calling 911 for assistance. Eyewitnesses added that Sutherland appeared to be "under the influence" when the attack happened.

Following the incident, Sutherland was taken into custody on suspicion of felony criminal threats. Under California law, he could face up to three years in state prison if found guilty. Sutherland has since regained his freedom after posting a $50,000 bond.

As stated, the rideshare drama marked one of many incidents in Sutherland's life, as he has racked up about four DUI convictions between 1980 and 2007. The latter led to Sutherland's incarceration after a judge handed him a 48-day prison sentence for drunk driving.

The charge stemmed from a 2007 incident when Sutherland was caught driving under the influence. He entered a no-contest plea to drunk driving and initially received a 30-day prison sentence before the judge added an extra 18 days for probation violation.

Sutherland was found guilty of violating the terms of his probation from a 2004 DUI case. After regaining his freedom in January 2008, a LAPD official praised the actor for his attitude behind bars, dubbing him "a model inmate."

A year before his rideshare case, Sutherland starred alongside Rebel Wilson in the British Christmas comedy film, "Tinsel Town." The Blast reviewed the movie, sharing how Sutherland's character, Bradley Mac, hit a little too close to home for the actor.

The plot follows Mac, a washed-up Hollywood action star, who takes a role in a small English village's Christmas pageant. The role felt similar to Sutherland's life, as he was once hailed for his achievements in the entertainment industry and for taking up action roles.

Unlike his glory days, the Christmas movie role paled in comparison to the Sutherland fans' love. He once reflected on his dwindling opportunities in an emotional interview, confessing:

"After '24,' I thought I would just naturally have a bunch of opportunities staring me in the face. But the truth is, if you don't create those opportunities, they're just not there."

Sutherland described himself as someone who enjoyed his work as an actor; however, because he failed to plan ahead, he missed multiple opportunities. "I'm sliding into 60 years old at 100 miles an hour, and I'm acutely aware of the fact that people cared more about what I thought when I was 30 than they do now," he said.

Sutherland's confessions about his career came years after he expressed his desire to return to TV for another season of "24." The Blast reported that he shared his interest in 2023, claiming his burning passion for the series remained the same.

According to Sutherland, portraying Jack Bauer in the Fox drama series was "one of the greatest experiences" of his career. He added that filming the show was one of the best moments in his life and he would have loved to see it continue, as it was "incredibly special."