A man who was stopped by Johnstown police officers 17 months ago for failing to use the turn signal on his car while driving at the intersection of Franklin and Hickory streets has filed a federal civil rights complaint stating officers severely beat him after he became frightened and tried to run away.

Cyrus Wilson, 31, a native of Philadelphia, stated in his complaint filed Wednesday with the U.S. District Court in Johnstown, that the two patrol officers driving in separate cruisers conducted a traffic stop after they witnessed him make a turn without signaling.

After being stopped, Wilson got out of his car, but the two officers told him to get back in the car.

At that point, two additional officers arrived.

Wilson, in his complaint, stated the two officers who had just arrived at the scene indicated instead that they intended to search him and ordered him to place his hands on his car.

The lawsuit, filed by attorneys Vincent Colianni and Marina Leonard of Wexford and Todd Hollis of Turtle Creek, noted that Wilson was “incredulous” that the officers wanted to search him after he was stopped for a minor traffic violation.

“Why?” he asked. “I didn’t do anything. What did I do?”

He was told by the police officers they had a right to check him for weapons.

“At this point, Wilson, who weighed only 145 pounds, was surrounded by four officers for committing a minor traffic violation. He became frightened and started to run,” the lawsuit stated.

One of the officers then tased him. Another officer jumped on his back and began punching him in the face. That officer, according to a body cam recording, punched Wilson in the face at least 10 times.

Two other officers joined in, punching and kicking the suspect.

Wilson, according to the narrative, began screaming for help.

Two of the officers continued to beat him even after he was handcuffed and on the ground.

Wilson eventually was transported to an area hospital, where he was treated for a concussion and a broken bone in his face.

The civil charges brought on behalf of Wilson include a Fourth Amendment violation — the use by police of excessive force and the failure by one or more of the officers to intervene and stop the beating.

Wilson’s attorneys are asking for monetary damages, contending the officers were “recklessly indifferent” to Wilson’s constitutional rights.

Hollis, when contacted, stated Wilson “believes the actions (of the four officers) violated his constitutional rights.”

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Stephanie L. Haines.

Haines stated in her order issued Thursday that the case will be included in the court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program.

State court records state Wilson entered guilty pleas to charges of violating signal requirements and operating a vehicle while his license was suspended or revoked.

Judge Tamara Bernstein on March 27, 2025, imposed no further sentence.