MOUNT VERNON — A third complaint in two months was filed Monday against Mount Vernon Police Department officers, claiming police misconduct and brutality.

According to documents filed by local attorney Phillip Lehmkuhl in U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio Eastern Division, Gary Priest, a former Mount Vernon resident, was followed to his residence by officers after he refused to speak to them in regard to a report of a disturbance.

Priest was arrested in his home after officers Justin Trowbridge and Brian Weiser entered his residence “without invitation, permission or warrant for the arrest of Gary Priest.”

The complaint states Priest told the officers to leave his home. Dismissing Priest’s request, the two officers “handcuffed Priest and placed him under arrest for obstruction of official business, a misdemeanor.”

The court document states Priest was “escorted forcibly to Patrolman Trowbridge’s cruiser” where he was later transported to the Knox County Jail. The document states the officers “acted recklessly, in bad faith, wantonly, and/or maliciously, and under color of state law.”

The complaint claims Priest’s Fourth and 14th Amendment Rights were violated.

Priest, who now lives in Newburg, N.D., claims to suffer loss of personal freedom, physical injury, pain and suffering, mental and emotional upset and anguish, fear, embarrassment, legal and other expense, inconvenience and other related damages.

The suit seeks judgment against Trowbridge and Weiser jointly and separately for compensatory and punitive damages, as well as reasonable attorney fees and costs.

Trowbridge was named in a suit filed by Brandelyn Zar in April in which Zar claims her Fourth and 14th Amendment Rights were violated when she was arrested in her home without a warrant.

Weiser and Trowbridge are named in their individual capacity. Neither the MVPD nor the city of Mount Vernon are named.

Calls to Weiser and Trowbridge were unreturned at press time.