GUELPH — The husband-and-wife owners of a new-and-used computer store downtown are suing Guelph Police, alleging electronic and personal items were seized illegally, customers intimidated, business disrupted and one of the owners made fearful for his safety.

Qingxian Zhang, 47, and his wife, Guangyun Hou, 48, of PCTrust Computers on Macdonell Street are demanding more than $1 million in damages in a statement of claim filed in Guelph Superior Court in early February and served Wednesday.

"We'll await for the police to serve a statement of defence," said Davin Charney, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, noting the defendants have 20 days to do so, unless they appeal for an extension.

Defence lawyer Judith Stoffman issued a statement Friday that the Guelph Police Service confirms receipt of the statement of claim. "As the matter is before the Court, it would be inappropriate for our Service to address the claim or specific allegations," she wrote.