LAPD Faces Lawsuit Over Protest Head Injury
Robert Dye sued the Los Angeles Police Department after he was struck in the head by a less-lethal munition during a June 2025 protest in Central Area.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Law Enforcement
Robert Dye filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department after he was struck on the left side of his head by a less-lethal munition during a planned protest in Central Area on June 14, 2025. Dye transported himself to a hospital and was admitted for medical treatment.
Why it matters
The case raises questions about how police use less-lethal munitions during crowd control situations in Los Angeles. It also highlights how use-of-force incidents move through internal review and legal channels after injuries occur.
The Force Investigation Division assumed investigative responsibility for the use of force after being notified of Dye's hospitalization on October 27, 2026. The LAPD released a preliminary investigation report on November 1, 2026, but its findings were not detailed in the source material.
The players
Los Angeles Police Department
The LAPD is the primary municipal police agency serving the city of Los Angeles, responsible for policing its neighborhoods and investigating officer use-of-force incidents through its internal divisions.
Force Investigation Division
The Force Investigation Division is an LAPD unit that investigates officer use-of-force incidents, and it assumed responsibility for the investigation into Dye's injury.
The details
Officers were deployed to a planned protest in Central Area when members of the crowd threw rocks and bottles at them, prompting officers to discharge less-lethal munitions. Dye was struck on the left side of his head and was later admitted to a hospital for treatment following the incident.
Timeline
June 14, 2025: LAPD officers deployed to a planned protest in Central Area, and Dye was struck by a munition beginning around 6:15 p.m.
October 27, 2026: The Force Investigation Division was notified of Dye's hospitalization and assumed investigative responsibility.
November 1, 2026: The LAPD released a preliminary investigation report.
Legal Context
The incident reflects how use-of-force claims against the LAPD often proceed through the Force Investigation Division's internal review alongside civil litigation. Cases like Dye's show the procedural pathway that follows a less-lethal munition injury during a protest.
Residents who attend protests in Central Area may face exposure to less-lethal munitions when crowds turn confrontational. The case also shows how an injured person can pursue a lawsuit against the department while internal review proceeds.
The takeaway
Injuries from crowd-control tactics can lead to parallel internal investigations and civil lawsuits that unfold over many months. Readers following protest policing should watch for the Force Investigation Division's findings in cases like this one.
Further reading
Explore more Los Angeles law enforcement coverage for context on how local police agencies handle protest policing and use-of-force cases.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Gold Rush Cam.
