Sacramento to Pay $2.2 Million to Injured Protest Observer

City settles civil lawsuit with man who suffered traumatic brain injury from police bean bag round during George Floyd demonstrations

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The City of Sacramento has agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle a civil lawsuit filed by Danny Garza, a legal observer who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck in the face by a police bean bag round during the 2020 George Floyd protests. Garza, who was wearing a bright green National Lawyers Guild observer's hat at the time, says the impact "felt like getting hit in the head with a hammer" and has robbed him of the life he was building.

Why it matters

This settlement highlights ongoing tensions between law enforcement and protesters, as well as concerns over the use of less-lethal munitions by police during demonstrations. The case also raises questions about accountability for injuries caused by police actions during civil unrest, and whether sufficient steps are being taken to prevent such incidents in the future.

The details

According to the report, Garza was acting as a legal observer with the National Lawyers Guild when police responded to an object being thrown at them by firing less-lethal rounds. Footage shows Garza, wearing his distinctive observer's hat, being struck in the face and falling to the ground. The impact left him with a traumatic brain injury that he says has dramatically altered the course of his life. Garza filed a lawsuit against the city, former police chief Daniel Hahn, and officer Michael Mantsch, who filed a report stating that "to my knowledge nobody was seriously injured or needed medical attention from the bean bag rounds I fired." However, Garza argues that "no one is being held accountable" and that he has asked the district attorney to file criminal charges against the officer, but the request was declined.

  • The incident occurred during the George Floyd protests in 2020.
  • Garza filed the civil lawsuit five years ago, in 2021.
  • The City of Sacramento reached the $2.2 million settlement with Garza in February 2026.

The players

Danny Garza

A legal observer with the National Lawyers Guild who was struck in the face by a police bean bag round during the George Floyd protests, suffering a traumatic brain injury.

Daniel Hahn

The former police chief of Sacramento named in Garza's lawsuit.

Michael Mantsch

The Sacramento police officer who fired the bean bag round that struck Garza, and filed a report stating that no one was seriously injured.

National Lawyers Guild

A non-profit organization that trains and deploys legal observers to monitor law enforcement conduct during protests and demonstrations.

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What they’re saying

“It felt like getting hit in the head with a hammer.”

— Danny Garza (cbsnews.com)

“No one is being held accountable, no one is asking why this happened, why they did it and taking corrective actions to make sure it doesn't happen again.”

— Danny Garza (cbsnews.com)

“I want my old life, I worked really hard for it, and I liked the person I was and the life I was building through all my hard work and they took it away from me.”

— Danny Garza (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

Garza has asked the district attorney to file criminal charges against the officer who shot him, but the request was declined. The City of Sacramento has not commented further following the settlement.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between law enforcement and protesters, as well as concerns over the use of less-lethal munitions by police during demonstrations. It raises questions about accountability for injuries caused by police actions during civil unrest, and whether sufficient steps are being taken to prevent such incidents in the future.