The District of Columbia has reached a $50,000 settlement in a lawsuit brought by a local resident alleging unlawful detention by police officers during a protest in the city. The lawsuit stemmed from an incident in which the plaintiff, Sam O’Hara, claims he was detained for playing the “Star Wars” character Darth Vader’s theme song on his cellphone while following a patrol of the Ohio National Guard.

O’Hara filed the lawsuit against the District of Columbia, four officers from the Metropolitan Police Department, and a member of the Ohio National Guard. According to court documents released Monday, O’Hara’s actions were intended as a form of protest against the federal law enforcement surge deployed to Washington, D.C., during the period of heightened security measures under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The suit asserts that O’Hara was unlawfully stopped and held by law enforcement despite not engaging in any illegal behavior. The officers and the guard member involved have not publicly commented on the allegations. The Metro Police Department and the District have agreed to the settlement, effectively resolving the case without admitting wrongdoing.

Details of the incident highlight the tensions between protesters and law enforcement during the federal surge in the capital, which was implemented amid widespread demonstrations in 2020. O’Hara’s use of music to manifest dissent underscores the varied and creative forms of protest that occurred during that time.

The settlement reflects the District’s efforts to address claims of civil rights violations connected to its police conduct during the politically charged demonstrations. The case drew attention for its unusual circumstances and has been cited as an example of the complex dynamic between citizens exercising free speech and law enforcement operations in the city.