'24' star Kiefer's latest brush with the law

Canadian television and film actor Kiefer Sutherland has been arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department on the misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. He was arrested early Tuesday on suspicion of drunken driving in West Los Angeles and later was released on bail.

Sutherland was pulled over in West L.A. around 1:30 a.m. after making an illegal U-turn, authorities said. He was nabbed for investigation of misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence after he failed a field sobriety test. He was on way back to home after attending the Fox Fall Eco-Casino party at Area nightclub.

The 40-year-old actor failed a Breathalyzer exam, registering blood alcohol level higher than the permissible limit, though authorities declined to disclose by how much. The legal blood alcohol limit in LA is .08 percent.

“A traffic stop was conducted by our West Traffic Division and further investigation revealed that he was under the influence of alcohol,” LAPD media relations officer Kate Lopez said.

The star of the popular FOX TV series "24" was released around 4 a.m. after posting a $25,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 16, police said.

Sutherland’s arrest came just hours before he was scheduled to receive an honor from a Canadian entertainers' group. Later in the day of arrest, Sutherland was honored by the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) at an afternoon ceremony at the Canadian Consul General's official residence in Los Angeles.

Sutherland, who plays counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer, received an ACTRA Award of Excellence, which is presented every two years to a member working predominantly in Los Angeles.

“This (award) means everything,” he said in his speech. “All the really good things that have happened to me in my life generated from Toronto.”

This is not the first time the ‘24’ star is arrested for DUI instead he has a history of DUI charges. The latest arrest is his third for the same offense. As per the Los Angeles County Superior Court records, Sutherland was twice convicted for alcohol-related reckless driving, in 1989 and in 1993. In 2004, Sutherland was sentenced to serve 50-hours community service for a drunk-driving charge in Los Angeles.

Born on December 21, 1966 in London, UK, Kiefer is the son of actor Donald Sutherland and Canadian actress Shirley Douglas. He is the grandson of Canada’s influential politician Tommy Douglas. He has a twin sister named Rachel who works as TV post-production supervisor in Toronto, and three step-brothers from his father’s earlier marriage.

Sutherland made a big screen debut by appearing as Bill in Max Dugan Returns in 1983. He is most famous for his role as CIA agent Jack Bauer in the worldwide TV hit “24”. His magnificent acting in the Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran- created series, helped him won a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and two Golden Satellite Awards, as well as received two Emmy nominations.

Sutherland has been married twice. In 1988, he was married to actress Camelia Kath who was 14 years his senior. But their marriage lasted for two years. The couple filed for divorce in February 1990. They share a daughter, Sarah Jude born in the same year they got married. He was married a second time, to Kelly Winn, on June 29, 1996. Unfortunately, the relationship ended in May 2004.

Kiefer is known to have had romantic relationships with several women like Julia Roberts and dancer Amanda Rice. He became engaged to Roberts in 1991, although their relationship ended just five days before their planned marriage, which was scheduled for June 14, 1991.