Beaver County man files federal lawsuit alleging excessive force by area police Raccoon Township Police and Pennsylvania State Police named in lawsuit Share Updated: 6:35 PM EST Feb 16, 2021 Raccoon Township Police and Pennsylvania State Police named in lawsuit Share Updated: 6:35 PM EST Feb 16, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript DAVID: EARLIER TODAY INDEED. WE’VE CONFIRMED WITH THE RACCOON TOWNSHIP SOLICITOR THAT PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE IN DOING AN INVESTIGATION. THERE, THE OFFICER INVOLVED IS ON LEAVE. PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE NOT COMMENTING ON ONGOING LITIGATION. WE SAT DOWN TODAY WITH A 23-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO FILED THIS LAWSUIT, SAYING THAT RACCOON TOWNSHIP POLICE OFFICER WAS RECKLESS, AND THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE SHOULDN’T HAVE DETAINED HIM. >> FOR ME, IT WAS JUST TYPICAL DRIVING. DAVID: EMMITT WILLIS WAS DELIVERING GROCERIES ON JANUARY 3 WHEN HE NOTICED A BLACK SUV FLY UP BEHIND HIM. ON A TWO LANE ROAD, WILLIS SAYS THE CAR SWERVED INTO ONCOMING LANE FLASHED A GUN, THEN PUSHED , HIM OFF THE ROAD, AND DIDN’T HAVE LIGHTS OR SIRENS. >> WHENEVER HE WAS JUST MOVING ME AROUND AND THROWING ME TO THE GROUND AND STUFF, I KNEW TO JUST GO WITH IT AND NOT FIGHT HIM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. DAVID: WILLIS THEN SAYS THE OFFICER GOT HIM TO THE GROUND, AND HAD HIS GUN NEAR HIS BACK, AND THEN FIRED A ROUND INTO THE GROUND NEXT TO HIM. WILLIS SAYS HE SAW THE OFFICER PICK UP THE SHELL CASING BEFORE STATE POLICE ARRIVED. THE 23-YEAR-OLD WAS TOLD BY TH OFFICER HE WAS PULLED OVER FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION. AS OF NOW, NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST WILLIS, WHO ALSO COMPLETED A SOBRIETY TEST. WILLIS FILED THE FEDERAL SUIT TODAY ALLEGING EXCESSIVE FORCE, FALSE ARREST AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT. >> I JUST THINK THAT IT’S AN ALL-TOO-COMMON ORDEAL FOR PEOPLE TO GO THROUG AND I JUST THINK THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT. DAVID: BEAVER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY DAVID LOZIER TELLS ME ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES INVOLVED ARE COOPERATING. AN ATTORNEY FOR EMMETT WILLIS SAYS THEY STILL DO NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE RACCOON TOWNSHIP POLICE OFFICER INVOLVED. WE’RE LIVE OUTSIDE PENNSY