Two former Minersville police officers have been charged with violating civil rights and making false reports, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Harry Brown, 43, of Pottsville, and Richard Clink, 50, of Minersville, were indicted by a federal grand jury on the charges.

The indictment alleges that Brown and Clink were on duty on Feb. 2, 2022, and deprived an arrestee of his constitutional right to be free from the use of unreasonable force by a law enforcement officer. The arrestee suffered injuries as a result.

The indictment further alleges that Brown and Clink falsified, covered up, and made false entries into police reports documenting the arrest and their use of force.

The matter was investigated by the Minersville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James Buchanan is prosecuting the case with assistance from the Civil Rights Division.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.