Mount Joy Borough police released a statement Friday regarding the alleged harassment of a Lebanon city council candidate by a Mount Joy police officer in March.

The incident is “now a subject of potential litigation,” the statement read. “Naturally, since this is both a litigation and personnel matter, the Borough is constrained as to the comments which it can offer publicly.”

Lebanon resident and city council candidate Royal Marti claimed Officer Jason Smith verbally harassed him, slapped the phone from his hand and struck his face outside a convenience store in the borough on March 31, according to Lebanon Daily News.

In his account of the incident, Marti alleged police mocked him and his boyfriend in the parking lot before he started recording, Lebanon Daily News reported.

Marti was reportedly denied a settlement by the department before posting the video online.

“That video, taken nearly two months ago, resulted in the department taking immediate action to investigate the matter and it took appropriate steps to comprehensively address the situation,” according to the police statement.

The borough reportedly issued an unspecified disciplinary action against Smith following an investigation of the incident.

LNP reported in February 2013 that Smith had received a two-day suspension without pay for undisclosed misconduct.

No charges or formal lawsuit related to the March 31 incident were filed as of Friday.

Mount Joy police and borough are dedicated to addressing community concerns and delivering public safety services including “ongoing training to its police officers to ensure that the rights of the public are always respected,” according to the police statement.

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