HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- A Huntsville teen who died after being arrested by Huntsville police in a drug sting suffered broken ribs, had a flashlight shoved in his mouth and suffered cardiac arrest while officers sat on him, a federal lawsuit alleges.

The 17-year-old choked, began vomiting and lost consciousness while handcuffed but officers refused to render aid, according to the lawsuit filed by Nancy Smith, the teen's mother. Police told paramedics they thought the teen had overdosed, but the lawsuit said no signs of an overdose have been found.

The officers, who had sent an informer to buy drugs from the teen, held the teen down and inserted two pens and the butt of a flashlight into his mouth searching for contraband. They didn't find any. The boy could not breathe and had turned blue by the time paramedics arrived, according to the complaint.

He died on June 18, 2013, five days after being transported to Huntsville Hospital.

The 6-foot, 130-pound teen had contusions all over his body, the lawsuit alleges.

Huntsville City Attorney Peter Joffrion denied the wrongful death allegations in April shortly after the original lawsuit was filed. Joffrion said it was "very unfortunate" that the teen died, but he was confident police responding at the scene "handled this matter appropriately."

The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in March, but much of it was dismissed in October on technical grounds. The plaintiff was ordered to amend the complaint.

The new complaint was filed on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Huntsville. It now alleges that a failure to train officers has created a "reputation for excessive force" and a tolerance of improper behavior by officers.

The lawsuit also alleges the two officers involved in the arrest of the teen failed to prevent the other from engaging in excessive force.

The suit alleges the arresting officers caused the teen's death by use of excessive force.

The lawsuit names several defendants including Huntsville Police Chief Lewis Morris, Lt. Lee Trimble, STAC Sgt. DeWayne McCarver, Deputy Chief Kirk Giles, agent Glen Eaves, agent Tesla Hughes, agent Joseph Blake Dean, investigator Charlie Gray and agent Terry Lucas.