PORTLAND (WGME) – Maine’s attorney general wants a federal court to remove the state and Maine State Police from an excessive force lawsuit.

Attorney General Aaron Frey says neither the agency nor the state can be sued under federal and state law because the laws only allow individual people to be sued.

• Also read: State insists actions were justified as couple sues Maine State Police for excessive force

The lawsuit stems from an incident in March 2024, where Justin Savage was repeatedly punched in the face by Maine State Police during an arrest at his home in Limerick.

He and Shawna Morse, who live together, filed the lawsuit, claiming troopers falsely said Savage tried to escape and Morse used force against them to justify their actions.

Maine State Police cleared the officers of any wrongdoing, according to the Bangor Daily News and the Maine Monitor.

Injuries Justin Savage suffered during his arrest in March 2024. (York County Sheriff's Office)

Savage claims he suffered serious head injuries, a broken nose and brain injuries.

State police said they were responding to a domestic assault. They claimed they responded to the home after a neighbor reported that Savage assaulted his girlfriend in front of their home.

According to police, Savage struggled with troopers, resulting in one trooper breaking an ankle. They also claimed he bit another officer.

Savage was charged with domestic violence assault, assault on an officer, assault, refusing to submit to arrest and disorderly conduct. Morse was also charged with refusing to submit to arrest and obstructing government administration.

• Also read: Man claims he was beaten by Maine State Police, seeks $100M in lawsuit

Video footage of the arrest shows troopers throwing the man to the ground and later striking his bloodied face as he was restrained and yelling that he could not breathe.

The charges against Morse were later dropped, according to the Bangor Daily News and the Maine Monitor, as were several of Savage’s charges.

State police say the couple’s own actions caused the incident, and added that Savage became combative and tried to escape, which Savage disputes. Savage and the state reportedly reached a deal dropping all remaining charges, provided he does not commit crimes for six months.

Savage and Morse filed a lawsuit and are pursuing damages in excess of $100 million against the Maine State Police and the individual officers.

The AG’s office is representing the officers involved in the incident.