Austin Breen Sues Denver Police Sergeant for Tackling Him from Behind and Detaining Him Without Legal Justification During the 2025 No Kings Protest
Austin Breen Sues Denver Police Sergeant for Tackling Him from Behind and Detaining Him Without Legal Justification During the 2025 No Kings Protest
October 13, 2026
Boulder, Colo. – Today, just days before the 2026 No Kings Protest in Denver, Colorado, Grata Law and Policy LLC filed a complaint in Denver District Court arising from police misconduct during the 2025 No Kings Protest. During last year’s No Kings protest, Denver resident Austin Breen was peacefully protesting against the excesses of the Trump Administration and in support of trans rights and immigrants’ rights. While lawfully exercising his First Amendment rights, he was tackled to the ground and wrongfully arrested by Denver Police Seargent Lee Ingersoll even though he was complying with police orders.
Specifically, at approximately 7:00 p.m. on October 18, 2025, a line of Denver police officers in riot gear decided to turn around a group of marchers heading west on 6th Avenue. The group, including Mr. Breen, complied. But in the words of the officer who transported Mr. Breen to jail that evening, the officers nevertheless chose to use force, stating “tonight was feeling like 2020 … [we’re] all getting excited.”
As seen on video of the incident, although the protesters had turned around as ordered and were moving eastward, Denver police fired tear gas cannisters at the protesters’ backs and shortly afterwards charged them from behind. Sgt. Ingersoll tackled Mr. Breen for no lawful reason as he was moving eastward, arrested him, and took him to Denver County Jail, where he remained until approximately 1:00 a.m. the next day. All charges against him were later dismissed by the City Attorney’s office.
Explaining why he brought this lawsuit, Austin Breen said: “If we can do everything right, follow every order, and still be attacked by the police, how is anyone able to trust those tasked with keeping us safe? We need to hold those responsible accountable.”
Dan Williams, counsel for Mr. Breen, said: “The 2026 No Kings protest in Denver is less than a week away. Our hope for this lawsuit is that it serves to underline for Denver’s police department that its officers need to respect the voices of the people calling for change in this country, and firing gas cannisters and rushing lawful protesters from behind as they did in 2025 will not be tolerated.”
Mr. Breen is represented by Dan Williams and Clarice Tenorio of Grata Law and Policy LLC.
The complaint filed in Denver District Court can be found here: Breen v. Ingersoll Complaint
Video footage from the encounter can be found here: DPD Body-Worn Camera Footage: A. Breen encounter with Denver Police Department October 18, 2025