PITTSBURGH — A lawsuit against Lancaster Township and its former police chief, David Sitler, was filed on Nov. 20 in U.S. District Court by a man who claims Sitler assaulted him, resulting in the chief's termination from the township's police force.

In the lawsuit, Kent Bowers of Lancaster Township accuses Sitler of using excessive force during his arrest in 2016, falsely arresting and imprisoning him, prosecution without probable cause and malicious prosecution.

Bowers was arrested on Oct. 6, 2016, following an incident at his home on Scott Ridge Road.

The suit 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.

The suit seeks compensatory damages from the township and punitive damages from Sitler.

Township solicitor Phil Lope confirmed on Tuesday that the incident between Sitler and Bowers caused Sitler's termination from the township's police force on Oct. 28, 2016.

The suit says that Sitler and other officers responded to a call at Bowers' home, during which Bowers' wife told police he had a history of mental illness, was intoxicated and behaving erratically.

Video from the patrol car provided by Bowers' attorney, Ryan Breen, appears to show the events described in the lawsuit:

<div class="youtube"><iframe width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vu4AFW-Xry0?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

The video does not have sound, and does not show how long Bowers had been sitting in the vehicle before being confronted by Sitler.The physical contact between Sitler and Bowers takes place over the course of about 30 seconds, after which Bowers is removed from the police car. The video does not show any interactions between Bowers, Sitler, or anyone else outside of the vehicle.