Granite Falls mayor released from jail, admits to using bad judgment
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SEATTLE -- Granite Falls Mayor Haroon Saleem admits to using bad judgement during the very public argument with relatives that landed him in jail
Saleem said he may have provoked his niece, but insists he was only protecting his daughter when he was arrested at Sea-Tac Airport for felony harassment Monday evening.
"I went up to her and said, 'Did you threaten to kick my daughter's ass?" And she said, 'Yes, I did say that and I will kick her ass.' And I said, 'Why don't you go ahead and try,'" he said.
That niece, Tania Chatelle, said Saleem started the argument and was out for blood.
"He came up and started verbally assaulting me and asked if I want him to kick my ass and how dare I threaten his daughter," she said.
The whole mess unfolded at the airport after Saleem's daughter, Nida, and Chatelle got into an argument while on vacation in California.
"He was protecting me. He was doing this for me," Nida said.
Saleem said police arrested the wrong person and blames them for ruining his reputation.
Since being released from jail, Saleem said he's done nothing but field questions from his constituents. Even more devastating, he said his mother is being forced to choose between him and his sister's family.
Saleem said he's confident he'll prevail in court and hopes his Granite Falls family will stick by him. He's due in court on Thursday.
Saleem said he may have provoked his niece, but insists he was only protecting his daughter when he was arrested at Sea-Tac Airport for felony harassment Monday evening.
"I went up to her and said, 'Did you threaten to kick my daughter's ass?" And she said, 'Yes, I did say that and I will kick her ass.' And I said, 'Why don't you go ahead and try,'" he said.
That niece, Tania Chatelle, said Saleem started the argument and was out for blood.
"He came up and started verbally assaulting me and asked if I want him to kick my ass and how dare I threaten his daughter," she said.
The whole mess unfolded at the airport after Saleem's daughter, Nida, and Chatelle got into an argument while on vacation in California.
"He was protecting me. He was doing this for me," Nida said.
Saleem said police arrested the wrong person and blames them for ruining his reputation.
Since being released from jail, Saleem said he's done nothing but field questions from his constituents. Even more devastating, he said his mother is being forced to choose between him and his sister's family.
Saleem said he's confident he'll prevail in court and hopes his Granite Falls family will stick by him. He's due in court on Thursday.
