Four Johnstown police officers are denying they violated the civil rights of a Philadelphia man who attempted to flee on foot after being stopped for a minor traffic violation that occurred nearly two years ago at Franklin and Hickory Streets in the city.

The incident that occurred on Aug. 19, 2024, began when Patrol Officers Eric Allen and Jarred LeFevre, in separate vehicles, conducted a traffic stop after noticing that a motorist failed to use his turn signal when entering the intersection.

After the stop was made, the driver of the vehicle, Cyrus Wilson, 31, got out of his car and wanted to know why he was stopped.

As Wilson initiated a conversation with Allen, who told him to get back in his car, two additional officers, Jonathan Gavin and Adam Grumling, arrived at the scene of the traffic stop.

Allen indicated to Wilson that he wanted to search him and told him to place his hands on the car.

Wilson questioned why he was being searched in the aftermath of a minor traffic violation.

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

According to a federal lawsuit filed in January, and amended in March, Wilson, who weighed only 145 pounds, became frightened at being surrounded by four officers.

“He started to run,” his lawsuit stated.

Allen immediately tased him, and according to the Wilson complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Johnstown, Gavin “jumped on top of Wilson’s back, and began repeatedly punching him in the face as he lay flat on the ground.”

“Bodycam footage shows Gavin punching Wilson at least 10 times in the face,” and after the beating he can be heard bragging about the punches he landed, the lawsuit continues.

As the initial beating continued, none of the other three officers tried to intervene.

The Wilson lawsuit reported that eventually Grumling and LeFevre joined in the beating, Grumling punching Wilson five times, and kneeing and kicking him as well.

The lawsuit stated, “The beatings by Gavin, Grumling and LeFevre were gratuitous — the officers were in complete control of Wilson as they punched, kicked and kneed him while he was flat on the ground.”

Wilson, through attorneys Vincent Colianni II of Wexford and Todd J. Hollis of Turtle Creek, is seeking punitive damages from the officers, charging them with violating his Fourth Amendment rights “to be free from seizures made with excessive force.”

The lawsuit also seeks damages against the three officers who initially failed to intervene to stop the beating.

Wilson in the melee suffered a concussion and a broken bone in his face, the lawsuit reported.

The officers, represented by attorney Jordan P. Shuber of Cranberry Township, have now answered the lawsuit, denying they are liable for any claims and demanding “strict proof” at trial.

The answer reported that Allen and Gavin are no longer employed as police officers with the city while LeFevre and Grumling remain on the force.

It also agrees that the incident began when Allen stopped Wilson’s vehicle for his failure to use the turn signal.

“It is admitted only that (Wilson) attempted to evade arrest. It is denied (Wilson) weighs only 145 pounds or was frightened. By way of further response, it is denied that (the officers) are liable for any claims raised herein and strict proof is demanded at trial,” according to the answer.

The officers also refused comment on the details of the encounter, but noted that the content of the camcorder video speaks for itself, contending repeatedly that they are not legally liable for events of that night.

As to the alleged violations of Wilson’s constitutional rights to be free from excessive use of force and the failure of officers to intervene to stop the initial attack on Wilson, the answer continues to deny the officers are liable.

In the listing of affirmative defenses that may be raised, the answer noted that officers assert their right to qualified immunity, and stated, the “officers acted in good faith and without the intent to violate (Wilson’s) civil rights.”

They claim Wilson “attempted to evade arrest by flight” and “actively resisted arrest for a period of two minutes.”

“Once compliance was gained, no constitutional rights were violated,” the officers contend.

They stated in their answer that whatever happened “adequately complied with their policies.”

The answer additionally maintains that Wilson’s lawsuit is barred because he pled guilty to the charges that led to his arrest.

District Judge Stephanie L. Haines has scheduled a case management meeting on the case for May 14.