Overview
- The complaint, filed in federal court in Washington, names Ohio National Guardsman Sgt. Devon Beck and four Metropolitan Police Department officers.
- According to the filing, Sam O’Hara followed a patrol on Sept. 11 while playing the Star Wars theme on his phone, was handcuffed for 15–20 minutes, and was released without charges.
- The ACLU alleges violations of free-speech and unreasonable-seizure protections and brings claims of false arrest and battery while seeking compensatory and punitive damages plus legal fees.
- TikTok videos of O’Hara’s encounters have drawn large audiences, with at least one clip surpassing one million views.
- Officials have declined substantive comment as the case proceeds against the backdrop of an August National Guard deployment to D.C. that left more than 2,300 troops in the city and directed arrests to local police.