Man sues over treatment by fired Warren cop

This is the same officer who used a Taser on a Howland woman at a tavern.

YOUNGSTOWN — The incident that led to the firing of a Warren police officer has also produced a lawsuit in federal court.

Tim Brown II of Warren was stopped by officer Richard Kovach on Aug. 23 just after he left USA Gas on South Street Southeast and his vehicle was searched without permission.

Warren Safety-Service Director William “Doug” Franklin fired Kovach over the incident earlier this month, saying Kovach had violated Brown’s rights — because Kovach knew Brown was not a suspect in a murder.

Kovach is also the officer who made national news by using a Taser on an intoxicated Howland woman during her arrest outside the Up A Creek tavern on East Market Street on Sept. 2.

On Wednesday, Brown filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Youngstown naming Kovach, the City of Warren, Police Chief John Mandopoulos and John Doe police officers as defendants.

Warren Law Director Greg V. Hicks could not be reached to comment.

The suit was filed by Warren attorney Gilbert W.R. Rucker III.

The suit says that even though Kovach knew or should have known that there was no reason to detain Brown, he “violently and maliciously seized” Brown and restrained him on the ground. The suit said Kovach’s actions subjected Brown, who is the son of another Warren police officer, to severe embarrassment and humiliation.

The John Doe police officers at the scene were named in the suit for failing to protect Brown from Kovach, the suit said.

The Warren Police Department and Mandopoulos were named in the suit because the department’s management is responsible for training officers and failed to provide proper training, the suit said.

The suit seeks unspecified damages.