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Williamsport settles lawsuit for $275,000 without admission of guilt

The City of Williamsport has settled without an admission of liability a police excessive force-malicious prosecution suit for $275,000 for an incident occurring during the administration of Mayor Gabriel J. Campana.

A stipulation of dismissal notice was filed Wednesday in U.S. Middle District Court of the settlement in the litigation Dana S. Sealander brought against the city and officers Ryan Brague and Laura Miller Kitko.

Sealander said he believed the “policing” issues involved in his case were too important to agree to a confidential settlement over having a taser weapon used on him at 2 a.m. on Nov. 20, 2016.

Sealander and Christopher Reed were involved in an altercation on Court Street that morning, according to a police affidavit.

Sealander was in possession of a pistol. Brague was not disciplined for not disclosing Reed was his cousin and the men communicated via text negatively against Sealander in order to ensure the positive outcome for the department. The incident took place under Campana’s administration and Chief David Young.

Brague’s certification to use the law enforcement weapon had expired, court records revealed.

None of the current administration nor City Council have commented on the matter which typically are privileged matters and handled through city liability insurance.

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