A Scranton man filed a federal lawsuit against the city, alleging a police officer used excessive force in arresting him in response to a domestic dispute.

Williams Serrano, 1230 Meadow Ave., says he suffered several facial fractures after Patrolman Brett Griffiths struck him while placing him under arrest.

According to the suit, Griffiths and Patrolman Kyle Calvey responded to Serrano's home July 12 for a report of a domestic dispute. They found Serrano lying face down on a bed and yelled at him to get up, but he did not respond.

The officers told Serrano he was being placed under arrest, and he questioned why, but they did not respond. Griffths was on top of Serrano and tried to grab his left hand to handcuff him. Serrano pulled his hand away and Griffiths then struck him twice in the face, the suit says.

The lawsuit does not provide details of the domestic disturbance call. An arrest affidavit filed in Lackawanna County Court shows Serrano was charged with simple assault, resisting arrest and harassment after his girlfriend called police to allege he dragged her by her hair and kicked in the door of their home. He is scheduled to go on trial on the charges in March.

The lawsuit, filed by Wilkes-Barre attorney Jonathan Cometz, claims Serrano was not resisting and that Griffiths used excessive force, causing him to suffer serious injuries. It seeks damages for unreasonable search and seizure, assault and battery from Griffiths and the city.

Attempts to reach city solicitor Jessica Eskra for comment Wednesday were unsuccessful.

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