WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) The owner of a West Hartford fitness club has sued the town and two police officers who he says declined to arrest an employee after she admitted stealing checks from his business.

D'Mario Sowah, a native of Ghana, tells the Hartford Courant that West Hartford police mistreated him when he reported the theft from Akua Ba Fitness and suggested he report it to Hartford police instead. West Hartford police eventually declined to pursue charges, he said, when the employee told them she would make restitution.

Sowah's lawer, Mathew Sorokin, says a promise of restitution is not a defense for larceny.

The town has moved to have the lawsuit dismissed. Assistant Corporation Counsel Patrick Alair tells The Courant that officials believe the officers did nothing wrong.