Webbers Falls Police Officers Punished For Alleged Harassment

Thursday, February 1st 2007, 8:50 pm

By: News On 6

WEBBERS FALLS, Okla. (AP) -- A police officer in Oklahoma has been fired and another demoted after a Muslim woman from Arkansas claimed the two harassed her about her religion during a November traffic stop.

Councilman Richard Cude confirms the Webbers Falls city council took the action at a recent council meeting.

A letter from the town trustees to the woman says officer James Wagoner was fired and Captain Joe Garrett demoted after the November 4th incident.

A complaint was lodged against the officers by 36-year-old Nadiah Yusuf, a kindergarten teacher from Little Rock.

She claims she was returning from a conference in Tulsa with five colleagues when she was pulled over for speeding. She says the officers repeatedly questioned her about her religion and asked her if she had any connection to the September 11th hijackers.

A message left with Webbers Falls Mayor and Police Commissioner Jewell Horne wasn't immediately returned.