Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

2 Middle Eastern men found with video of Sears Tower
The Mercury ^ | October 17, 2001 | MICHELLE MOWAD

Posted on 10/17/2001 2:06:03 PM PDT by testforecho

2 found with video of Sears Tower
MICHELLE MOWAD, Special to The Mercury October 17, 2001
PLYMOUTH -- Two men whom police described as Middle Eastern were detained in the township by federal immigration authorities after being found with detailed video footage of the Sears Tower in Chicago.
Plymouth Police encountered the men after an officer responded to Pizzeria Uno on the 1000 block of West Ridge Pike at 2:40 p.m. Thursday for a report of illegal dumping, according to reports.

A manager there advised the police officer that a tractor-trailer was observed backed up to the Dumpster at the rear of the restaurant. The manager noticed a freshly dumped pile of furniture adjacent to the Dumpster, according to police.

The manager confronted the vehicle's operator, a Middle Eastern man, police said.

The man, who later identified himself as Moshe Elmakias, 30, denied that he did anything and fled the scene, heading west on West Ridge Pike, according to police.

The manager was able to provide township police with the Florida registration number of the tractor-trailer and said that a sign posted on the side of the vehicle read "Moving Systems Incorporated" and included a phone number, police said.

The area was searched by township police, and the vehicle was spotted parked on the curb in front of John Kennedy Ford on Ridge Pike, just west of Industrial Way.

An officer proceeded to make contact with the occupants of the truck by knocking on the cab, according to reports.

A Middle Eastern man, later identified as Ron Katar, 23, exited the sleeper area of the cab and said that the operator was across the street as he pointed toward the Don Rosen Porsche dealer, reports said.

Elmakias and a white female, Ayelet Reisler, 23, were approaching the vehicle from the dealership, but the female then began walking in a different direction, acting as if she were not with Elmakias, according to reports.

Reisler was detained and checked for identification. She had a German passport in her name and medication in a different name, police said.

Plymouth Police Sgt. Thomas Longo was notified and responded to the incident.

Elmakias allegedly admitted to being behind Pizzeria Uno, although he said that he did not dump furniture, he was only turning around.

Elmakias said that his destination was New York and that he was also coming from New York. He said he was in Plymouth because he was supposed to make a pickup from a male in the morning and pointed toward the Storage USA facility on Belvoir Road and West Ridge Pike, police said.

Elmakias could not, however, provide a name or telephone number of the customer.

Township police dispatched a request for a Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program Inspector. Officer Gerald Schwartz of the Whitpain Police Department responded.

Schwartz discovered through his investigation that the operator's log had been falsified and put the truck out of service due to violations, police said. In addition, the vehicle reportedly had numerous equipment violations that rendered the truck unsafe.

Inspection of the tractor-trailer's contents revealed a load three-quarters full containing household items, including furniture and boxes.

Among the items in the truck was a Sony video camera.

Plymouth Police Officer David McCann reviewed the tape found inside the camera. The tape had video footage of Chicago with zoomed-in shots of the Sears Tower, according to police.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified of the incident and all three subjects were transported to the Plymouth Police station.

The subjects were then processed through the National Crime Information Center and placed into detention, according to the report.

FBI Agents James Sweeney and Richard Tofani arrived at the station and proceeded to investigate both the subjects and their belongings with the assistance of Immigration and Naturalization Services.

Elmakias and Katar were eventually detained by INS and transported to a federal facility, said police. Reisler was released.

All evidence collected by Plymouth and Whitpain officers was transferred to federal facilities with the exception of a VCR.

Special Agent Linda Vizi, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia FBI, could not be contacted for comment on further investigations.

©The Mercury 2001


TOPICS: Breaking News; Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 181-188 next last
To: testforecho
The most frightening aspect of this article is that these guys were found by ACCIDENT--not by agents hot on the terrorist trail!
61 posted on 10/17/2001 2:41:23 PM PDT by Freedom56v2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 95Tarheel; rboatman
Sorry about that. It's in Pennsylvania.
62 posted on 10/17/2001 2:42:13 PM PDT by testforecho
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: NittanyLion
Thanks!
63 posted on 10/17/2001 2:42:18 PM PDT by cantfindagoodscreenname
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: ThreadKiller
Ditto!
64 posted on 10/17/2001 2:48:25 PM PDT by deathtoallterrorists
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: testforecho
Thanks for the post, but WHERE the hell is Plymouth!?

The following line...

Special Agent Linda Vizi, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia FBI...

--- leads me to believe that is it near Philadelphia. That would be in Mississippi, right?

/sarcasm

65 posted on 10/17/2001 2:58:48 PM PDT by F-117A
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: aruanan
"Time for an interrogation by Black & Decker"

I would opt for the electric sander with a coarse grit paper. It would take awhile but hey...

66 posted on 10/17/2001 2:58:54 PM PDT by jrewingjr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

'A Middle Eastern man, later identified as Ron Katar, 23, exited the sleeper area of the cab and said that the operator was across the street as he pointed toward the Don Rosen Porsche dealer, reports said.'

Wonder if they were shopping for a 'get-a-way' car!!

I called Florida State Republican party today to ask them to relay message to D.C. ------->When are they going to start DEPORTING all illegals from this country!! She said 'good question' and will relay the message!!

67 posted on 10/17/2001 2:59:17 PM PDT by LADY J
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: testforecho
They need to test that furniture and truck for anthrax.
68 posted on 10/17/2001 3:05:56 PM PDT by pgkdan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: aruanan
I was thinking of something I would find in my shop.
69 posted on 10/17/2001 3:06:04 PM PDT by Straight Vermonter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: aruanan
Time for an interrogation by Black & Decker.

Coffee maker? The drip method?

Come in with a bio-suit and offer them some "powdered" creamer!

70 posted on 10/17/2001 3:06:09 PM PDT by F-117A
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: NittanyLion
I believe the state is Pennsylvania.

It is. The Mercury is a newspaper out of Pottstown.

71 posted on 10/17/2001 3:08:03 PM PDT by He Rides A White Horse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: NittanyLion
I believe the state is Pennsylvania.

It is. The Mercury is a newspaper out of Pottstown.

72 posted on 10/17/2001 3:09:15 PM PDT by He Rides A White Horse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Straight Vermonter
I was thinking of something I would find in my shop.

I guess it would depend on just what you were having the coffee maker drip into.
73 posted on 10/17/2001 3:10:31 PM PDT by aruanan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: Maringa
Take their photos from one yard away, and collect their drinking cups or soda cans for printing.
74 posted on 10/17/2001 3:12:46 PM PDT by Travis McGee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: tray-sea
... totally amazed. how did we get here.... oh yeah.. 8 long years of clinton.

Works for me.

75 posted on 10/17/2001 3:14:35 PM PDT by He Rides A White Horse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]

To: Squantos; harpseal; pocat; nunya bidness; wardaddy; SevenDaysInMay; 300winmag
Enemy among us bump.
76 posted on 10/17/2001 3:17:27 PM PDT by Travis McGee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: IceGirl2
It is crazy to release the woman.

I was wondering about that.

77 posted on 10/17/2001 3:17:27 PM PDT by He Rides A White Horse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: cantfindagoodscreenname
"Plymouth" here is the name of the township - Plymouth Twp in Montgomery Co., PA. - just abt 5-7 miles from Philadelphia - The town in Plymouth Township is called Plymouth Meeting... confusing, I guess.
Also, the source, "The Mercury", is a local Montgomery County paper which I believe is published in Pottstown, PA. I live abt 1 mile from the Pizzaria Uno of this story... A little too close for comfort...
78 posted on 10/17/2001 3:19:55 PM PDT by WorksinKOP
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: testforecho
Our borders have become a national disgrace and now a national security nightmare. Immigration into our country is an absolute "free for all".
79 posted on 10/17/2001 3:20:30 PM PDT by Joe Hadenuf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IceGirl2
It is important for all of us to stay on guard--

Be wary, yes IceGirl. Panic, no.....I'm not saying you are either, keep that in mind.

80 posted on 10/17/2001 3:22:17 PM PDT by He Rides A White Horse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 181-188 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson