Student's Arrest Arouses Terror Concerns *BREAKING*

The Indy Channel ^ | 2/26/03 | WRTV

[agenda_express]

Student's Arrest Arouses Terror Concerns

Flight Manuals Allegedly Found In Hit-And-Run Suspect's Car

POSTED: 8:09 a.m. EST February 26, 2003

UPDATED: 11:27 a.m. EST February 26, 2003

INDIANAPOLIS -- A seemingly routine traffic accident Tuesday has triggered investigations by the Marion County Sheriff's Department and the FBI.

Police said Ayman Al-Salmi, 21, ran a stop sign at Raymond Street and Executive Drive -- less than a mile from Indianapolis International Airport -- struck a vehicle, and fled the scene on the wrong side of the road.

A witness, Dean Fulbright, said he saw the accident, chased Al-Salmi, and returned him to the crash scene, RTV6's Jack Rinehart reported.

Fulbright characterized Al-Salmi as "suspicious."

"He was acting kind of nervous-like," Fulbright said. "He either didn't have insurance or he done something he wasn't supposed to be doing. But he was wanting to leave the way he was."

Fulbright kept Al-Salmi at the crash scene until police arrived.

According to the police report, Al-Salmi -- a foreign national -- kept changing his story as to why he fled the scene, including: "He was confused, he was lost, he was trying to find a business and was frustrated and the he didn't know why he left."

Police said Al-Salmi kept insisting that a police report not be taken, and offered to take the hit driver to a bank to withdraw $5,000.

According to the police report, Al-Salmi also tried to offer the tow truck driver money to tow the car to his cousin's home, and to not tell the officer that it wouldn't be heading to the wrecker lot.

The deputy also said Al-Salmi acted "agitated," and as he walked toward the car "he followed extremely close, bumping his stomach into my right gun side. I turned toward him, and he stood staring at me. I then asked him not to bump me, and just stood there and stared."

The deputy said Al-Salmi tried to block his view of the car's damage.

According to the police report, a search of the car uncovered numerous loose papers with instructions on how to fly a plane and a handwritten note on how to get to the Federal Building in downtown Indianapolis. The paper also reportedly stated "not to wear metal; there was a metal detector; not to take a number; to be quiet; stand by the window."

"Believe me, When we saw all these circumstances, we thought immediately that we have to look at this a little closer -- and we did," MCSD Deputy Chief Herman Humbles said.

The deputy said Al-Salmi kept trying to distract him from the vehicle by continuing to ask questions, and insisting that he be allowed to pay off the driver.

Al-Salmi was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of failing to stop for a property damage accident. He entered a plea of not guilty, Rhinehart reported.

Investigators later served a search warrant on Al-Salmi's Speedway apartment. They learned he's an aviation engineering student taking classes at Vincennes University, Rinehart reported. They also said he has a roommate who needed to go to the Federal Building to address immigration issues.

"The chances of it all coming together like that in one time was just coincidence," Humbles said.

The Marion County Prosecutor's Office referred the case to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

FBI officials confirmed that they were investigating Al-Salmi and his roommate's backgrounds, family ties and American contacts.

Sheriff's investigators said the two men were cooperating fully with the investigation.

Copyright 2003 by TheIndyChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[agenda_express]

It says it happened on Tuesday, but I don't see a date anywhere.

[browardchad]

By the way, where's John "no such thing as terrorism" H K?

I'll take a stab at it:

There's a perfectly logical explanation for the papers found in the car: Al-Salmi's friend was going to pick him up at the Federal Building in a plane (thus he had to stand by the window) and give him a flying lesson, and during the flight they were going to discuss his friend's "immigration problem." Furthermore, Al-Salmi left the scene of the accident because he didn't want to be late and miss his plane ride.

A perfectly innocent explanation, and we should all be ashamed of our suspicions.

How's that?

[el_texicano]

"I always assumed that if I made contact with a police officer I would be eating asphalt with a knee on the back of my head. What on earth was that officer doing?"

D@mn straight...cops I know would've had this toad on the ground and handcuffed before he had a chance to spit the asphalt out of his mouth. This cop was waaaaaay to nice. Send him back for some training of some sort. Sheesh, could have gotten himself killed.

[JoJo Gunn]

Thanks, MinuteGal. Seems they'd be falling all over themselves, as how this story has so many paralells. But what do I know, right? Blake makes the front page instead. yawn.

[lawdog]

He was testing the old axiom that it is "better to be lucky than good." It's wiser to test your luck in Vegas at the roulette table than on the street.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Ping! LOL

[cake_crumb]

"It says it happened on Tuesday, but I don't see a date anywhere."

From the current article on their site, which may have been updated:

Police said Ayman Al-Salmi, 21, ran a stop sign Feb. 19 at Raymond Street and Executive Drive -- less than a mile from Indianapolis International Airport -- struck a vehicle, and fled the scene on the wrong side of the road.

LOL...something either got lost in the original post, or the current article was updated. I was half sure it was imminent system shutdown due to my neurons nearing critical mass (normal for this time of day)

[archy]

Any suspicious refinery activities in this area? I know there was in Chicago

Is that the same one as Gary, Indiana or am I missing something?

Not much. The Indiana refinery fire was in Whiting, in northeastern Indiana, not too far from Gary, about 150 miles from Indianapolis.

There are some oil refineries south of Indianapolis, about 115 miles Southeast, just across the Wabash river at Lawrenceville, Illinois and about 35 miles north at Robinsoon, IL, convenient to the large quantities of cooling water required from nearby Wabash river tributaries. But that's about it.

Recent refinery and other industrial fire and disaster info *here*.

-archy-/-

[slimer]

Copyright 2003 by TheIndyChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Does this mean anything?

[GovernmentShrinker]

Let Dean Fulbright train him.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Could Dean Fulbright have been an armed citizen and the media is failing to report that?

Let's not drop this one. Was it John Lott who did the media mentions stats for the West Virginia law school shooting? Something like 200 media stories, with 16 mentioning that the guy who stopped the shooter had a gun. First time I'd seen such a statistical review done, and it should become routine, so there's a whole list of them that the skeptics can be referred to.

[maxwellp]

Don't feel bad. Here in New York State they arrested Muslims in Buffalo couple of months ago and today they arrested Muslims in Syracuse. All suspected of terrorism or funding terrorism. The enemy is here in America!

[MattAMiller]

How exactly does one manage to address immigration issues whilst being paranoid about metal detectors, refusing to take a number so one can be served, not speaking and hovering by a window? LOL!

I don't know about this standing near the window business. But I can see why a young Arab male wouldn't want to give any reason to stop them at a metal detector.

I'm not sure how not taking a number would fit into a terror scenario though. Seems like you'd just want to blend in. Maybe he'd schedualed an appointment and didn't need a number.

It's very suspicious obviously. But I'm not sure what exactly to make of it.

[Chad Fairbanks]

It means "... with the exception of Fair Use as defined by current copyright laws, or other compaies who think they are special..."

[Pagey]

bttt

[T. Jefferson]

Ayman Al-Salmi, 21.

GUILTY.

[Sacajaweau]

Mabe the numbers are time-clock marked OR within the view of a security camera.

[freedom4ever]

I graduated from the Vincennes University flight Tech program in 1980. We had a couple of Iranians in the program then. There were several Iranians attending the college. They always played foosball and noone else could ever play. I knew one who I considered an aquaintence. He was very nice. Heck, I even bought him dinner a couple of times. I have wondered if the Feds have ever looked into the school since the 9-11 attack. THe chairman of the Flight Dept. goes to my church. If I go Sun., I'll have to ask him about this.

[syriacus]

I certainly commend them.

[InShanghai]

If you've ever been to immigration to deal with the bureaucratic, red tape, slow moving, federal immigration officers, you could understand.

I've had to stand in line at 7:00AM when they open their doors at 9:00AM. Upon getting to the metal detector (and prior to 9-11), I'm told that the on key-chain pocket knife I have to cut my fingernails is considered a leathal weapon and it will either be confinscated or I'll have to put it in my car, parked eight blocks away. No way would it be returned. I can understand why someone would suggest not to take any metal because if they opt to return it to their car, they'll have to stay in line another 2-3 hours, JUST TO GET IN THE DOOR.

If you take a number, it means you're there without an appointment. If you have an appointment, you're usually directed to wait near a door or window where someone (another slow moving immigration worker) will check your appointment status.

I'm certainly not saying this guy is not suspicious, however he could just as well be trying to avoid getting into trouble. In any case, this will be interesting to follow. I hope I'm not wrong.