SPARTA -- Three Sparta teenagers have filed notice that they may pursue a lawsuit following an incident in which an off-duty state trooper fired shots at their vehicle.

The three teenagers -- Jesse Barkhorn, Jon Baker-Peters and Matthew Mayer -- filed their notice of tort claim in a letter sent by their attorney, Louis Barbone, to Acting Attorney General John Hoffman.

Although none of the teens were injured by the shots that Trooper Kissinger Barreau fired at their vehicle on July 26, the shots hit the vehicle and disabled it, and the teens were held in custody by Sparta police and State Police for about 10 hours after they called 911, Barbone said.

The incident occurred after the teens knocked on the door of Barreau's home in Sparta at 2 a.m., mistakenly believing it was the home of a friend, according to accounts by both sides.

Barreau remains on active duty in good standing, state Police Capt. and spokesman Stephen Jones confirmed Tuesday. Barreau has not been charged with anything, although the incident remains under investigation, authorities have said.

The notice says the three teens may pursue claims against the State Police, Barreau and Sparta police.

The notice, sent to Hoffman on Oct. 20, is required under state law if someone is contemplating suing a public agency.

Jones and Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the state Attorney General's Office, both confirmed that the three young men were all 18 and 19 at the time of the incident.

Jones offered no more details, saying the State Police "can't comment on pending litigation."

The teens' notice points out that neither Barkhorn nor Baker-Peters were charged "with any crime or offense" in connection with the incident, but does not make the same claim for Mayer.

Mayer was charged with possession of marijuana in connection with the incident and the case is being handled in municipal court, Jones said.

Spokesmen for the Attorney General's Office and for the Sparta police said they would have "no comment" on the litigation.

In his notice, Attorney Barbone said the teenagers' "injuries and damages" include violations of their federal and state constitutional rights and civil rights "with regard to the unreasonable search and seizure of their persons," along with their unlawful detention, arrest and imprisonment, and pain and suffering from emotional distress and economic loss.

The actions by State Police and Sparta police "constitute unreasonable and unlawful exertion of police authority," the attorney said.

Outlining the teens' version of events in the notice, Attorney Barbone said the chain of events started when his clients, "mistakenly believing they were at a friend's property," knocked on the door of Barreau's home in Sparta at 2 a.m.

"Ultimately, they heard Trooper Barreau come to the front door yelling obscenities and they knew they were knocking at the wrong property," Barbone said.

The teenagers returned to their car and tried to leave, but Barreau "appeared with weapon drawn pointing at their motor vehicle," while "purportedly" identifying himself as a state trooper, Barbone said.

Barreau then fired "multiple rounds" at the three young men, striking the vehicle in two places while they were "simply attempting to drive out of the housing development," Barbone said. One shot hit a tire, authorities have said.

After the teenagers called 911 to report the incident, they were "seized, arrested and detained" for 10 hours while their vehicle was disabled, according to their attorney.

The teens were ultimately released from the Netcong State Police barracks, Barbone said.

Ben Horowitz may be reached at bhorowitz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @HorowitzBen. Find NJ.com on Facebook.