FORT WAYNE, Ind,. (WOWO): A former Deputy Sheriff in Whitley County is suing to get his job back.

Terrance McKinney has filed a lawsuit at the U.S. District Court in Fort Wayne that claims he was fired because of his race. He also claims that Whitley County Deputy Sheriff Tony Helfrich used excessive force on him during a traffic stop and caused emotional distress, all because of his race.

The Journal-Gazette says McKinney named the county as well as Helfrich in the two-count lawsuit.

McKinney was terminated in March 2014 after just seven months on the job. He says he was fired for five “performance issues”, but only named three of those issues in the suit.

The Whitley County Sheriff's Department has not yet commented on the suit.