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Deputy Thinking Drug Bust In Stop Of Mohamed, Megahed

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 19, 2008

TAMPA -- The South Carolina sheriff's deputy who stopped a car with two University of South Florida students in August says he initially suspected the silver Toyota with a Florida tag was involved in drug trafficking.

Berkeley County Deputy James Lamar Blakely testified this morning that the license plate caught his attention because of Florida's reputation as a drug importation hub. When the car didn't pull to the side of the road until after he signaled for about a mile, Blakely's suspicions deepened, he said.

Testifying in a federal court hearing, Blakely said the driver kept looking in his rearview mirror, and the driver and passenger moved about as though they were stowing something in the console.

The Berkeley County deputy's focus on the two Egyptian men seemingly changed from drugs to something more sinister after speaking with them.

Blakely returned to his patrol car and talked to another deputy, sizing up the situation.

"The driver ain't much saying anything," he said. "Except when I asked him why he didn't pull over, he said because the roads were slanted, but both of them were sitting holding Qurans in their lap while they're driving. One's got a laptop. I think they're part of the Taliban."

A recording of the traffic stop was played in court this morning as part of a hearing over motions by the defense to suppress evidence seized in the stop. The driver, Ahmed Mohamed, and passenger, Youssef Megahed, face a charge of illegally transporting explosives. Mohamed also is charged with trying to help terrorists by posting on the Internet a video of himself demonstrating how to use a remote-controlled toy to detonate a bomb.

Blakely testified this morning that his "Taliban" comment was an "unprofessional joke" that he shouldn't have made. He similarly described other comments he made, including, "They probably got a bomb strapped to 'em."

The defense is arguing that the remarks reflect inappropriate racial profiling. The prosecution maintains the traffic stop was legal and the search was consensual, requested by the deputy after the two men raised suspicions.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

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