Early one morning in February 2017, William Fulbrook says he was driving to work when another motorist ran a red light and cut into his lane of travel in Monroe Township, Gloucester County.

Fulbrook says he briefly flashed his high-beams to register his disapproval.

What he didn't know at the time was that the other driver was a police officer in an unmarked car.

Minutes later, Fulbrook was pleading for his life after that driver allegedly ran him off the road and put a gun to his head, he says in a lawsuit.

Fulbrook has filed a federal lawsuit against Monroe Township, Police Chief John McKeown and the officer he encountered that morning, Matthew Buerklin.

Allegations include excessive force, false arrest, malicious prosecution, assault and civil rights violations, among other claims.

After Fulbrook flashed his high-beams, he says Buerklin soon pulled to the side of the road, let Fulbrook pass, then pulled behind him with his high-beams on. Buerklin then allegedly pulled alongside of Fulbrook and swerved into his lane "effectively running Plaintiff's car off the road," according to the suit.

Once stopped, Buerklin exited his unmarked car with a gun in one hand and a flashlight in the other.

"Freeze, mother(expletive)," the officer yelled, putting the gun "very close" to Fulbrook's head, the suit claims.

"How do you like that, mother(expletive)," Buerklin allegedly continued. "Now what are you going to do, mother(expletive)?"

Fulbrook says he pleaded with Buerklin not to shoot him.

With his gun still on Fulbrook, Buerklin asked him for his license and registration. Twenty minutes later, a half dozen marked police cars arrived on the scene.

One of those officers approached Fulbrook, "apologized to plaintiff and indicated that Buerklin was 'making them write him tickets,' " according to the suit.

The issued Fulbrook tickets for improper use of high-beams and following two closely, which were later dismissed in municipal court.

His attorney, Kevin McCann, said the incident has left his client shaken.

"My client is a construction work and he's scared stiff of this guy," he said. "And my client's a big dude."

Fulbrook gave a statement to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office last year regarding the incident. The office reviewed the matter and sent it back to the municipality, saying the officer had violated some Attorney General's Office use of force guidelines, but that they would not bring criminal charges, McCann said.

"Why he didn't get indicted is beyond me," he said.

Leadership at the GCPO has changed since then, but officials said Thursday that they could not comment on the matter.

"Due to the confidentiality of internal affairs investigations and the pending civil case, the GCPO will not comment on the Fulbrook-Buerklin matter," Prosecutor Charles Fiore said in a statement.

McCann doesn't know if the township pursued any discipline against Buerklin, an 18-year department veteran.

Police officials declined to comment on the litigation and on the question of disciplinary action.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips.