A federal lawsuit was filed Thursday by the Lindsay Law Firm and attorneys Al Lindsay and Nathan Fulk of Butler, Pa.

The suit is filed against former Ford City Borough Police Dept. Chief Paul Hughes, and another unnamed Ford City officer.

In the suit, David Hassa claims the pair allegedly violated his Fourth Amendment rights on Jan. 7, 2019, by reportedly using illegal seizures and excessive force.

The following is what is listed about the reported incident in a press release released by the law office:

According to the complaint, at approximately 8:10 a.m. on Jan. 7, 2019, plaintiff Hassa was at his home at 721 Fifth Ave., in Ford City, when he heard his dogs barking and noticed defendant “John Doe,” in uniform, standing on Hassa’s porch and staring into his home through a first-floor window with his hand (allegedly) on his firearm. Plaintiff Hassa calmed down his dogs, and then stepped out onto his porch, closing the door behind him.

It is alleged in the complaint that the defendant Doe immediately stated that “if you’d have let them damn dogs out, I would’ve shot them.”

It is also purported in the suit that neither defendant Doe nor defendant Paul Hughes, formerly the police chief of Ford City, identified themselves or showed credentials. Both defendants Hughes and Doe were (allegedly) not wearing name badges.

It is further alleged in the complaint, when Mr. Hassa inquired as to why they were there, defendants Hughes and Doe asked if the truck parked in his driveway belonged to him.

Mr. Hassa responded in the affirmative, inquiring as to why they asked. The defendants then asked who was driving the truck the last Wednesday night. Mr. Hassa responded that, as far as he knew, no one had. He stated that it had been broken down for the last two weeks and had only recently been repaired.

According to the complaint, defendants then (allegedly) showed Mr. Hassa a video on a cellphone, showing an unidentified individual dumping trash from a truck into a dumpster.

Mr. Hassa agreed that it looked like his truck, but stated that he was not the person driving it at that time.

Defendants (allegedly) accused him of lying and threatened to tow his truck from the driveway and impound it.

It is further alleged in the complaint that the defendants asked who else drives the truck besides Mr. Hassa. Mr. Hassa responded that his son, Zane Joseph Hassa, sometimes drove it, and the defendants (allegedly) asked where he was. Mr. Hassa advised that his son was taking the plaintiff’s grandson to the bus stop, but should be back in the house by then.

The complaint states that the defendants (allegedly) demanded to speak with the plaintiff’s son.

Mr. Hassa then said, “let me go get him,” and turned to reach the handle of his front door. Defendant John Doe then (allegedly) grabbed the plaintiff’s arm, spinning him around and using his right hand to grab the plaintiff by the neck.

The complaint goes on to state that defendant John Doe then (allegedly) slammed the plaintiff’s head against the wall of his house three times.

Mr. Hassa cried out, “You’re going to kill me!”

Mr. Hassa informed the defendants that he had several spinal fusions, which made him more vulnerable to neck and head trauma. Mr. Hassa requested the defendant John Doe’s name and badge number, but both defendant Hughes and defendant Doe (allegedly) refused to give any information.

Further, it is alleged in the complaint that Mr. Hassa then asked for their supervisor but was told to go to a town council meeting.

At that moment, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Scott Smith arrived at the scene.

Mr. Hassa again asked for the defendants’ names and badge numbers, but defendants (allegedly) refused to give them.

Mr. Hassa’s son then stepped out of the house to see what was going on.

Defendant Doe, it is alleged, then drew his firearm and defendant Hughes drew a stun gun, pointing them at Mr. Hassa’s son.

Mr. Hassa told his son to step onto the porch and that the officers needed to talk to him.

Mr. Hassa’s son stepped onto the porch but the defendants (allegedly) did not lower their weapons. Mr. Hassa asked again for their names and badge numbers, but was (allegedly) refused.

Defendants Doe and Hughes, according to the compliant, (allegedly) then told the plaintiff to go back into his house.

The defendants (allegedly) issued the plaintiff’s son a citation for illegally putting trash into a dumpster, pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S.A. § 3926(a)(1): a summary offense.

Following the incident, the plaintiff went to the hospital to be checked for injuries.

The plaintiff suffered contusions as a result of the physical trauma, continues to suffer neck pain as a result of the defendants’ (reported) actions, and is currently waiting to see his surgeon to determine if damage was done to the hardware in his spine.

Editor’s note — Neither Ford City Borough Mayor Jeff Cogley, nor former Ford City Borough Police Chief Hughes responded to efforts by the Leader Times to seek comment from them for this story by yesterday’s production deadline.