Redding Woman Pleads Not Guilty in Harassment Case Involving Police Officer

Adele Kaoud, a 50-year-old Redding resident, pleaded not guilty to second-degree harassment on Thursday in Stamford Superior Court. The charge stems from text messages sent in August that threatened to release intimate videos of the victim's husband, a sworn officer with the Westport Police Department, if a debt was not settled.

The dispute centers on a family estate left after the victim's parents died in 2021. According to the arrest warrant, Kaoud demanded payment because a relative of the victim, who had been removed from the family trust, owed her $250,000. The victim reported the issue to Wilton police on August 10, citing a series of texts Kaoud sent on August 4 to a group chat that included the victim, the victim's brother, and her two adult children.

In the messages, Kaoud gave the victim two weeks to pay the debt or she would send the videos to the municipal police department where the husband serves. The warrant noted that Kaoud wrote that if that did not work, the victim's daughters would receive the videos of their father. The victim told police she feared for her life and was unsure of Kaoud's capabilities. The husband confirmed that Kaoud possessed intimate videos of him and was using them as leverage.

A Westport Police spokesperson stated on Tuesday that the department is not investigating the videos internally or as a potential criminal case. During an interview on August 17, Kaoud acknowledged sending the messages. She explained that she acted to defend the victim's relative who was removed from the trust fund, stating that watching the relative be mistreated broke the camel's back.

Kaoud told police her last contact with the victim prior to the dispute was 20 years ago. She posted a $2,500 bond following her arraignment. Her next court appearance is scheduled for December 11.

The case highlights the intersection of personal family finances and professional relationships in law enforcement. The warrant details the specific timeline of the text messages and the financial background of the trust dispute. Kaoud remains out on bond while awaiting trial.