The former police chief of Lancaster Township has responded to a lawsuit against him denying allegations of excessive force used in an October 2016 arrest.

The lawsuit, filed in November in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania by Kent Bowers of Lancaster Township, accuses former Lancaster Township Police Chief David Sitler of using excessive force during Bowers' arrest, falsely arresting and imprisoning him, prosecuting without probable cause and malicious prosecution on Oct. 6, 2016, following an incident at his home on Scott Ridge Road, Harmony.

The lawsuit also alleges the township failed to properly train, supervise and discipline Sitler, which resulted in the assault and battery and false imprisonment of Bowers after police were called to his home.

Sitler, through his attorneys, filed a response on Monday, denying allegations,

The lawsuit states Sitler and other officers responded to a call at Bowers' home, where his wife told police he had a history of mental illness, was intoxicated and behaving erratically.

Bowers was found barricaded in the home, and officers entered before he “surrendered to the officers peacefully without incident,” the lawsuit states.

The suit alleges that Sitler intentionally overtightened the handcuffs, causing Bowers “severe pain and discomfort,” before being placed in his patrol vehicle.

Sitler's response denied that allegation, stating that Bowers was already placed in handcuffs when Sitler arrived at the location.

Bowers was then placed into the patrol vehicle while plans were made to take him to Butler Memorial Hospital for a psychological evaluation. After nearly one hour in the police car, the suit says, Bowers tried to get Sitler's attention first by banging his head and then by kicking the window.

Sitler's response denies ignoring pleas to loosen the handcuffs.

The lawsuit alleges that after Bowers insulted Sitler for being overweight, Sitler tackled Bowers across the rear seat, punching him in the ribs five or six times and choking him for several seconds “to the point where (Bowers) was nearly unconscious.”

A Zelienople police officer the opened the opposite backseat car door and Sitler released his grip on Bowers' throat and got out of the car, the lawsuit states.