“Baywatch” actress Alexandra Paul was arrested Sunday after joining a mob that broke into a Wisconsin beagle breeding facility and stole dogs from the property.
Paul, 62, best known for playing Lt. Stephanie Holden on the hit 1990s television drama, was among roughly 60 activists who forced their way into Ridglan Farms outside Madison on Sunday morning.
Approximately 20 people were arrested. Five, including Paul and the operation’s organizer, activist attorney Wayne Hsiung, remained in the Dane County Jail.
'Baywatch' actress Alexandra Paul arrested for freeing beagles in animal rights protest https://t.co/cjC7dJTBZR pic.twitter.com/4NRxh66Qkk
— New York Post (@nypost) March 17, 2026
The group’s Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs claimed they removed 31 dogs. Authorities said some of the beagles were found and returned to the farm, but several remain unaccounted for. Two vehicles, along with what police described as burglary tools, were seized at the scene.
“The Dane County Sheriff’s Office understands how deeply people feel for the beagles at Ridglan Farms, and we respect their right to express that passion through peaceful protests,” said Sheriff Kalvin Barrett. “Our role is to keep everyone safe and to respond when unlawful activity takes place. We encourage anyone with concerns about animal welfare or research practices to engage through lawful and constructive avenues.”
It is not Paul’s first arrest connected to animal rights protests. In 2021, she was charged with misdemeanor theft for allegedly taking two chickens from a Foster Farms truck in California. She was found not guilty in 2023.