Posted on 10/27/2001 6:43:22 AM PDT by browardchad
A common traffic stop on Florida's Turnpike Friday turned into search and rescue mission when a Florida Highway Patrol officer fell ill after ticketing a Jordanian man for speeding.
Florida's Turnpike was briefly closed near Orlando while the officer was airlifted to a local hospital. He was released after doctors determined he had a panic attack, and was not poisoned by a chemical or biological agent.
By the time the episode had ended, Georgia State Troopers were told to be on the lookout for Alaa Ishaq Eljallad, not because of the incident, but because it was discovered his visa had expired Oct. 18.
Here is how the events unfolded, according to authorities:
Shortly after 10 a.m., FHP officer Albert J. Renard was directed by a FHP pilot to stop a black 1999 Nissan clocked at 97 mph in a 70 mph zone of Florida's Turnpike in Osceola County. Renard caught up to the vehicle and issued Eljallad, 30, of Coconut Creek, a speeding ticket.
Unexplained: Why Eljallad's license plate bore the letters XEQ-SHNR (executioner).
After Renard issued the speeding ticket to Eljallad, he crossed the median to head in the opposite direction. But the seven-year-veteran began feeling ill and called his supervisor, who dispatched a helicopter.
But because of Eljallad's nationality, authorities became concerned that Renard's illness may not have been coincidental and closed part of the northbound lane of the Turnpike, before flying the officer to Orlando Regional Medical Center.
Police also issued an order for officers to stop Eljallad -- on his way to Atlanta with his girlfriend. He was stopped 150 miles later in Hamilton County.
Looking for a haven to conduct an interview, police ordered his vehicle into an agricultural field there, and photographed Eljallad and his girlfriend, Jackie Lambert, 31, of Coral Springs.
They actually spotted him south of Hamilton in Columbia County, but knowing the agricultural field was nearing, decided it was safer to stop Eljallad a couple of miles up the road, said FHP Major Ken Howes.
After it was determined Renard, 39, had suffered a panic attack, Eljallad and Lambert were released.
``There was nothing to hold them for, so we let them go,'' Howes said.
Another law enforcement source familiar with the incident said Eljallad got a ``thumbs up'' after a check by officers.
A further look, however, revealed Eljallad entered the United States on Dec. 29, 2000, and that his visa expired Oct. 18. The Georgia State Police were notified and told to hold Eljallad until Immigration and Naturalization Services deals with him.
The St. Andrews at Winston Park rental community where Eljallad lives was quiet Friday night.
There was no answer at his second-floor apartment door. All the lights were off in the well-groomed complex.
A call to Eljallad's Coconut Creek home went unanswered. He refers to himself as A.J. on his voice recorder.
I tend to agree. Yet, all things considered.....
Unless the "sprayed in the face" part of the story re-surfaces, a cop with a panic attack only strengthens the Federal govt's point that they must be at the center.
He was speeding. . .the downside is the judgement to let him go; THEN check his INS status.
Seems FL Police and no doubt, all Police Departments everywhere need to upgrade their procedures; particularly with regard to those who are . . .yes. . .Middle Eastern.
. . .and do it now, not later (should have been done September 12).
Think the Bill signed into Law yesterday, by President Bush would have meant that 'AJ' could have been on a plane heading 'home' today.
Too bad. . .
However, this episode does highlight the need to update all LE databases re foreigners here on visas, when they expire, etc.
And just because this guy "checked out" on a gneric police inquiry, so what? I suspect the FBI is right now crawling up the Executioner's anal orifice with a microscope.
I sure hope they are. Find him, hold him for the 7 days now allowed because of the expired visa, check him out worldwide. If he's still clean after that expel the lawbreaker.
I've always been amazed at the hand-wringing liberal's ability to protect the civil "rights" of foreigners to the total exclusion of my rights.
You forgot to close your sarcasm html tag.</sarcasm>
That information was clearly inaccurate and maybe based on rumor. If the subject had sprayed the officer with anything, they'd have him in jail for assault on a LEO. Cops look out for cops. They would not have cut him loose in Hamilton County.
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