A Westmoreland County man is suing the Penn-Trafford School District, as well as Penn Township, after he says he was improperly Tasered while a student there.

Adam Howell, of Jeannette, said he was shocked by a Taser twice on Sept. 19, 2007.

A lieutenant in the police department said he could not comment on the suit since the department had not yet seen it. The solicitor for the school district did not return a phone call seeking comment.

According to the lawsuit, Mr. Howell had asked his then-girlfriend to hold his car keys for him until the end of school.

However, at about 1:15 p.m., the girl was taken to the office after threatening to commit suicide. Mr. Howell did not know what had happened or that she was being held at the office while waiting for her mother to come pick her up. At the end of the school day, the lawsuit said, he called his girlfriend's cell phone to get his keys. However, the assistant principal answered the phone and told Mr. Howell that if he wanted his keys, he'd have to go to the school office because his girlfriend had to remain.

"She said to Adam, 'You need to get your keys and come calm her down,' " the lawsuit said.

Mr. Howell reported to the office, but his girlfriend refused to give him the keys and continually demanded that he take her with him out of the school.

"When Adam saw how upset the girlfriend was, he asked to be allowed to take her home," the lawsuit said.

At some point, Penn Township Officer Lewis Lock was called to the school. As Mr. Howell and his girlfriend attempted to leave the office, Officer Lock confronted them, and the girl became combative.

According to the lawsuit, Officer Lock grabbed her and pushed her face-first into a wall. He then pushed her to the floor to try to handcuff her and cut her lip, the lawsuit continued.

Mr. Howell told the officer to let the girl get up, and when he did not, he grabbed Officer Lock by the back of the shirt to try to pull him off of her.

With no warning, the officer shot Mr. Howell with a Taser, the lawsuit alleged. While he was on the ground immobilized, the lawsuit continued, Mr. Howell was hit a second time, causing him to lose control of his bodily functions.

Mr. Howell, who alleges that Penn Township failed to properly train and supervise its police officers, is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.

Mr. Howell also alleges that the school district improperly handled the situation with his girlfriend and should never have permitted him to see her when she was in such an emotional state.

The lawsuit also names as defendants high school principals Kathy Kelly-Garris and Scott Inglese, former police Chief Michael Mastroianni and Officer Lock.