Sept. 18, 2025 – A Huntington Beach father of three who was shot in the head with a “less lethal” projectile while peacefully protesting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has filed a federal civil rights claim seeking $50 million in damages against the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Santa Ana Police Department.
Tony Olson, 38, was among hundreds gathered near the intersection of 4th Street and Broadway in Santa Ana on the evening of June 9, 2025, to protest ICE’s family separations and conditions of confinement. According to the filing, Olson posed no threat to officers and was standing peacefully when deputies and officers opened fire indiscriminately on the crowd after a single individual on the other side of the street threw a firework.
As Olson ran east on 4th Street to avoid injury, an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy fired a 40mm projectile from a shotgun that struck Olson in the upper right side of his head. The impact fractured his skull and caused an 8mm subdural hematoma and subarachnoid bleeding, the filing states.
Olson collapsed, bleeding profusely from the wound, with ringing ears, double vision and slurred speech. He was rushed to Kaiser Permanente in Irvine before being transferred by ambulance to Kaiser Anaheim’s Neurology ICU, where he was monitored for emergency brain surgery. Ten staples were required to close the wound. He remained hospitalized for days and continues to suffer dizziness, nausea, headaches, memory loss, and emotional trauma.
Olson spoke at a press conference at 11 a.m. (Pacific) Thursday, Sept. 18, at the offices of V. James DeSimone Law in Marina del Rey. The press conference also was streamed live on Instagram at @civilrightslawyerjimdesimone.
“This was not policing, it was brutality,” said DeSimone, a civil rights attorney. “Mr. Olson was shot in the head with a military-grade munition for exercising his First Amendment rights. The Sheriff’s Department’s reckless and indiscriminate use of force violated the Constitution and California civil rights law. It is part of a pattern of deputies targeting peaceful demonstrators with excessive force.”
The $50 million claim alleges violations of Olson’s First and Fourth Amendment rights, California Civil Code Sections 43, 51.7 and 52.1, and state common law claims of battery, negligence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It also asserts that the Sheriff’s Department has a policy and practice of tolerating and encouraging excessive force.
Olson, who is still recovering, worries about the long term effects of his brain injury and how it could impact his wife and three children.
“This was an attack on the constitutional rights of peaceful citizens,” DeSimone said. “If law enforcement can get away with shooting people in the head for protesting, no one in America is safe exercising their rights.”
About Attorney V. James DeSimone
Los Angeles civil rights attorney V. James DeSimone has dedicated his 40-year law career to providing vigorous and ethical representation to achieve justice for those whose civil and constitutional rights are violated.
What is that guy doing in Santa Ana? Doesn’t he have protests in his own city? Look I don’t condole on unnecessary violence, but taking part on protest here in Santa Ana or any other city is just asking for trouble. You kind of know that you are taking a risk when you participate on such protests, which eventually turn into uncontrollable riots, so the way I see it is you want to stay 100% safe? I suggest you stay home in your own city. Just watch the caos and violence on the local news in the comfort of your own home. STOP putting yourself in jeopardy by coming to Santa Ana and participating in protests. Stay home!!!