Christopher Hughley attended a protest as a member of We the People 303, a leftist social justice group, on the day of President Joe Biden's inauguration.
Hughley took bear spray, a strong form of pepper spray, as a form of protection. His lawyer, Helen Oh, said Hughley had been attacked at protests before.
Carrying bear spray is legal, but not long after he arrived at the protest, Denver Police officers asked Hughley to give it up. Hughley refused, and was arrested, according to Oh. Now, the city is paying Hughley $25,000, after City Council approved the liability claim Monday.
DPD declined to comment.
The $25,000 payment adds to the millions of dollars paid out in police misconduct claims, many dating back to the 2020 George Floyd protests. But to Oh, the settlement is part of an ongoing pattern.
"It was a very clear example of police officers just really overstepping their bounds," she said.
In the settlement, Oh argued that DPD violated Hughley's right to free speech and due process and unreasonably seized the bear spray.
"My client, it was important for him that Denver be accountable. People have the right to protest," she said.
