Officer speaks after not guilty ruling

Ansonia, Conn. (WTNH) - An Ansonia Police Officer speaks out after a jury finds him not guilty of stealing a standard green garden hose, even though his co-workers said he did it.

Officer Mustaha Salahudin called it a beautiful day after he was found not guilty by a jury on a six degree larceny charge. He was accused of stealing a garden hose from the Ansonia Police Department headquarters two years ago. "It was like something out of fiction, you know a lot of people thought it was a joke," said Salahudin's attorney Rod Serafinowicz. "His life could have been changed dramatically, but he didn't do anything wrong."

Salahuddin, who is a black Muslim, contended all along that he was the victim of discrimination and was targeted after making numerous complaints against his superiors. He said Wednesday night was his first 'restfull' night of sleep in two years. "It's been a terrible ordeal for me and my family, I don't think I've ever been through anything like this before," said Officer Mustafa Salahuddin of the Ansonia Police Department. "I'm looking to reinvent myself and get back in the swing of things," continued Salahuddin.

NAACP leaders in the valley didn't mince words and called the investigation and subsequent trial of officer Salahuddin a waste of taxpayer money. "For certain, there has been unequal and preferential treatment practiced at the Ansonia Police Department under the poor leadership of Chief Kevin Hale," said Greg Johnson of the NAACP.

Those sentiments were echoed by Officer Salahuddin's brother, who agrees he was definitely discriminated against. "I would argue that everyone that had a hand in allowing this to go on as long as it did should be removed from office," said Mauri Saalakhan of the Peace and Justice Foundation.

News Channel 8 talked to Ansonia Police Chief Kevin Hale on Thursday. He said he strongly disagrees with any assertion that Officer Salahudeen was 'singled out' for prosecution. The Chief also said he went to an outside agency, the Connecticut State Police, to investigate the case. The Chief also stated that given the same circumstances again with any other officer, he would take the same actions that he took in Officer Salahuddin's case.