KITTERY – A Georgia man has been found not guilty of charges that he stabbed a co-worker at a local truck stop in July.

Omowale Nubian Black, 39, of Atlanta was acquitted of elevated aggravated assault and aggravated assault after a three-day jury trial in York County Superior Court in Alfred. The verdict came after nearly a full day of deliberations Friday.

Black was arrested at Howell’s Truck Stop on Route 1 after allegedly stabbing the 24-year-old victim at 2:30 p.m. July 7.

Police said Black, the victim and another man who had been working for Van Buren Movers out of Georgia were traveling through Kittery at the time. Black and one of the other movers began squabbling over working conditions and performance before Black allegedly stabbed him in the abdomen and in the biceps, police said.

During the trial, Black’s defense lawyers argued their client had acted in self-defense.

The verdict left local police who investigated the case “at a loss,” said Kittery Sgt. Ron Avery.