Photo: Jim Vondruska / Getty Images News / Getty Images
Tony Olson, a 41-year-old accountant from Huntington Beach, is seeking $50 million in damages after being shot in the head with a "less lethal" projectile during an anti-ICE protest in Santa Ana. The incident occurred on June 9 when sheriff’s deputies and Santa Ana police officers began firing projectiles into the crowd. Olson, who was attempting to leave the protest, was struck on the side of his head, resulting in a cracked skull and a traumatic brain injury.
Olson has filed a damage claim against the county of Orange, which typically precedes a lawsuit, and a separate claim against the city of Santa Ana. During a news conference on Thursday at his attorney V. James DeSimone's office in Marina del Rey, Olson expressed his disbelief at being injured while exercising his civil rights. "I didn’t expect to be shot," he said. "I am fighting back for justice."
The legal action highlights the ongoing debate over the use of "less lethal" projectiles by law enforcement during protests. Olson's case may lead to further scrutiny of these practices in Orange County and beyond.