Edited surveillance camera video footage obtained by The Morning Call shows an Allentown police officer firing his stun gun at a teenage girl in September outside Dieruff High School.

The Sept. 29 video – entered into evidence as part of a federal lawsuit filed last week against officer Jason Ammary and the city of Allentown – appears to show the girl raising her arms about a second before the officer fires the weapon and the girl collapses on the street.

Attorney Richard J. Orloski, who filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on behalf of Victoria Geist, the mother of the 14-year-old-girl in the video, says that Ammary used excessive forced when he fired the Taser directly at the teen's groin.

Allentown City Solicitor Jerry Snyder said he is aware of the lawsuit but hasn't reviewed it enough to comment. He said he has not viewed the video and would not comment on Ammary's status with the police department.

At the time of the incident, police said Dieruff had been having problems with students being disorderly during dismissal. Police also said the officer was justified in using his Taser, according to the "use-of-force continuum" – the standard police use to gauge their use of force.

The lawsuit claims an excessive use of force, an illegal arrest and the filing of retaliatory charges against 14-year-old Keshana Wilson to justify using the Taser.

She had been charged with aggravated assault on an officer, simple assault, riot, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, failure to disperse and walking on the highway. The assault and riot charges were dismissed in juvenile court.

Orloski would not comment further on the lawsuit Tuesday, saying "the video is more convincing than any words from me."

More info available here: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-allentown-dieruff-taser-video-20111213,0,3436609.story