Caught on tape: Deputies denigrate USF explosives duo

TAMPA -- A South Carolina sheriff's deputy and his partner referred to Youssef Megahed and Ahmed Mohamed as "graduates of suicide bomber school" and called them members of the "Taliban" during their arrest, according to federal court documents filed today.

Berkeley County Sheriff's Department Deputy Lamar Blakely also joked that Megahed and Mohamed had copies of the Koran in their possession, court records say.

The remarks taint the entire investigation and should prevent the government from using any evidence gathered during it, a defender argues in a motion.

The deputies' behavior was caught on video by a camera mounted on the dash of their cruiser during an Aug. 4 traffic stop near Goose Creek, S.C., that ended with the two suspended University of South Florida students being arrested and charged with carrying explosive materials.

"Shockingly, on the video, Deputy Blakely even expresses concern over the fact that his ethically-inappropriate remarks were being recorded by his in-vehicle video recorder," assistant federal public defender James W. Smith III wrote in a motion. "These and other inappropriate, ethnically-stereotyping comments occurred prior to the search and discovery of any items in the vehicle and shockingly illustrate that Deputy Blakely's decision to search the vehicle was not based on reasonable suspicion of unlawful acts but upon nothing more than his own biased, unlawful racial profiling."

The Federal Public Defender's Office is representing Megahed, 21, who along with Mohamed, 26, remains in a Hillsborough County jail. They could go to trial as early as March.

Smith filed a motion to suppress any physical evidence or statements made by Megahed during the traffic stop.

Blakely did a records check after stopping the pair for speeding and found that Mohamed, who was driving, had a valid license and there was no warrant for either of their arrests. The car was also properly registered, Smith said.

"Once Deputy Blakely conducted his records check and had all the information he needed to issue a traffic citation, the traffic investigation was over and the vehicle and its occupants should have been free to leave," Smith wrote.

Instead, the men were ordered out of the car. They consented to a search and were placed in handcuffs when deputies found a box of bullets beneath a seat.

Megahed was questioned about the contents of the car, but Blakely never read him his Miranda rights, Smith said.

"Such questioning by Deputy Blakely was illegal," Smith wrote.

The men told the deputies they were on a road trip to see the beaches of South Carolina with fireworks in their trunk.

"Despite this benign explanation, for some unknown reason, Deputy Blakely was unsatisfied with the response and continued to question Mr. Mohamed in a very aggressive and detailed manner," Smith wrote. "A viewing of the video tape makes it clear that nothing in the responses given by Mr. Mohamed or Mr. Megahed would lead a reasonable law enforcement officer to conclude that any illegal activity was taking place."

Kevin Graham, Times staff writer

Comments

[Steve]

The main issue is whether they were carrying explosives and there is evidence of intent to harm. The officer's remarks were inappropriate but should not be an excuse if there was or is evidence of danger.

[David]

If the deputies won't obey the law who will? The deputies are clearly racist and all the evidence should be thrown out. What? they were driving while Muslim?

[Josh]

No they were driving with explosives...Muslim goes without saying...

[lock them up now]

prosecution better find a way to build a case against these two terrorists and put them behind bars. yes it's circumstantial evidence, but let's put 2 and 2 together here, people... radical islamists + travelling in a car heading north + exposive paraphernalia in car = ??? don't let these two escape through the cracks. they're lucky to be in the USA where the law presumes them innocent.

[art]

He**,
Just shoot 'em and be done with it.

[Tom]

Good for the deputies. Thank goodness they were up to speed on their stereotypes or...oh thats right, those little jihad'ist were looking to kill us.

[Frank]

Actually, I think the Taliban would be quite proud of these deputies -- a search without probable cause is proof that totalitarian government is alive and well.

[T]

Doesn't matter if he was racially profiling or not...he was RIGHT.

[Kevin]

So, who are the terrorists? The rednecks or the students? The way I see it, "good ol' Bubba-Ray" would have been free to go. Way to go America, make yourselves look even worse.

Happy HOLIDAYS!

[CJ Harmon]

Americans are not the bad guys! What we have done in the war against radical islam is noble. Profiling saves lives.

[Earth to idiots]

hel-LO! They CONSENTED to a vehicle search. Its not that they were "driving while muslim" or that the deputies were racially profiling. They were "driving while dumb" and trying to blow up your HOMELAND. Kevin, Frank, et al., what if they had that car parked in front of YOUR homes, near YOUR kids' schools... would you be so quick to defend them?

[jim]

this is sooooooooooo USA. prosecute them. the issue is not whether the deputy was racially motivated....THESE GUYS ARE TERRORISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!