DC man sues over detention during Imperial March protest with Guard

A Washington, D.C., resident has sued the District, four Metropolitan Police Department officers and an Ohio National Guard member, saying police violated his constitutional rights when they detained him last month after he followed a Guard patrol while playing The Imperial March from Star Wars on his phone. Sam O'Hara, 35, filed the federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Thursday, saying the Sept. 11 encounter occurred on a public street in Northwest Washington and that he was handcuffed and held for 15 to 20 minutes before being released without charges.

The suit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia, alleges that O'Hara was peacefully protesting the federal deployment of Guard troops by trailing four armed Ohio National Guard members while playing and recording the orchestral theme associated with Darth Vader. It says one Guard member warned him he would call police if he continued, then summoned officers. The complaint contends the officers detained O'Hara without investigation, ignored his complaints that handcuffs were too tight and falsely accused him of harassment.

O'Hara is suing for violations of his First Amendment right to free...