Ex-police officer accused of placing racially charged letter in own mailbox

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A former Bridgeport police officer is accused of placing a racially charged "hate letter" in his own personal mailbox at the department.

Police said Clive Higgins, 50, of Naugatuck, surrendered to state police in Bethany on Tuesday.

They said he resigned on July 6 after the Central District Major Crime Squad began investigating a complaint made by Higgins.

According to officials over the summer, a letter with the words "white powder" circulated through the police department. The letter also threatened minority officers and mentioned Higgins by name. It was also typed on paper with a department letterhead.

Police said Higgins had been previously suspended after video surfaced of him and two other officers kicking a suspect in Bridgeport's Beardsley Park.

He was later acquitted of using unreasonable force.

After reviewing evidence and conducting a number of interviews in the case of the letter, investigators said an arrest warrant was secured for Higgins.

He was charged with second-degree falsely reporting an incident.

Police said Higgins was processed and released on a written promise to appear in court on Dec. 16 in Bridgeport.