06/04/2026
On May 20, 2026, plaintiff Danielle Soule, represented by Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the LAPD and LAPD Officers Gary Copeland and Ruben Rodriguez for their striking of Ms. Soule’s head while she was peacefully filming at a protest, which resulted in a laceration requiring staples to her scalp, a severe concussion, and long-lasting trauma.
On October 18, 2025, Ms. Soule attended a No Kings protest to document ICE and LAPD activity. LAPD officers on mounted horseback maneuvered their horses to push her and the rest of the crowd of peaceful protestors in one direction. While Ms. Soule was filming the officers doing this, Officer Copeland forcefully bludgeoned Ms. Soule on her head. From the high-up vantage point on his horse, Copeland’s blow was so violent that it split Ms. Soule’s scalp. Ms. Soule was taken to the emergency room where she required six staples to close the gaping, bleeding wound. She was diagnosed with severe concussion, suffered daily debilitating headaches, dizziness and confusion for weeks afterwards. To this day, she suffers daily headaches, disorientation, dizziness and mental trauma.
“It is time for Mayor Karen Bass to step up and stop this senseless police brutality,” said Dan Stormer, one of the attorneys for plaintiff Danielle Soule. “This repeated behavior by the LAPD must stop, and we intend to hold them accountable,” said Attorney McFarlane.
Read more in our latest blog.
A federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed against the LAPD and two officers after a peaceful protester allegedly suffered a severe head injury while documenting police activity during a Los Angeles demonstration. Learn more about the claims and allegations in the complaint.
