Bad timing blamed for group's detainment

The Daily Oklahoman ^ | October 12, 2005 | Randy Ellis and Judy Gibbs Robinson

[Spunky]

"No, I didn't pick up that they were upset at all."

Read his following statement. Seems to me he was upset at the Norman police.

"Barakat said the FBI agents were polite and professional throughout the investigation, but he also said Norman police were "very aggressive, very mean."

[KylaStarr]

Interesting tie in to the La Jolla "suicide" when you read the link.

very interesting!

Thank you for posting this RegulatorCountry!

[SauronOfMordor]

So Cheema's roommate blows himself up at the game, and Cheema is found late that night with a bunch of Muslims, one of whom is scheduled to go to Algeria the next day

They knew it was Hinrichs shortly after he blew up, because they found his wallet. They naturally are looking for his Islamic roommate. They grab the roommate as soon as he exits the apartment

Now, here's the thing I'm curious about: how is it the cops were waiting right outside the apartment for Cheema to come out? It suggests they had the apartment under surveillence. How long was it under surveillance, and what caused the cops to decide to put it under surveillance?

Inquiring minds would like to know

[MizSterious]

That was my thought, too. I can understand how they id'ed Hinrichs, but usually it takes awhile to go through friends or records to find out (a) there is a roommate, and (b) what his name is.

But maybe the authorities suspected he would commit suicide in a dramatic fashion. (Yes, that's sarcasm, in case anyone wonders.)

[Cindy]

Thank you for the pings.

[Rte66]

Yeah, an instructor. " 'Cheema always come to this apartment. That night, he just walk in,' Barakat said." Hope it's not ESL--maybe Egyptian as a 2nd Language?

[WestCoastGal]

Thanks for the ping, BB in a little bit to read it. :)

[SauronOfMordor]

That was my thought, too. I can understand how they id'ed Hinrichs, but usually it takes awhile to go through friends or records to find out (a) there is a roommate, and (b) what his name is.

If they're very motivated, and choose to assign a bunch of people, it can take a short time.

They have the address. A bunch of cops show up and ask everybody there what they know. Meanwhile another bunch of cops go to the University office building, having called up relevant people and told them to be there with the keys. Go thru the records computer to see who has the same address and apartment # as Hinrichs.

Meanwhile, it would be hard for word to not get back to Cheema that they're looking for him. Cops and FBI probably decided to tap every line in the building (known to be mostly Muslim occupied) to see if anybody makes any calls to tip off Cheema that the cops are looking for him

Since the FBI is involved, they can rather quickly find out Cheema's cell number, and ask the cell company to ping the phone to find out what cell area its in. Once they know the area, they have equiptment that can ping the cell phone and triangulate on its position

[Rte66]

I wondered that, too, but it *is* the same apartment complex, so maybe someone else there told Norman cops they had seen Cheema go 'over there.' Barakat did say that Cheema went to that apartment all the time, so it's a regular occurrence.

I do feel sorry for Cheema, as being hard-of-hearing, cuz I can imagine how the officers yelled at him. *If* he's innocent, that had to be upsetting.

[SauronOfMordor]

They also evidently knew what Cheema looked like, in order to to arrest him. Wonder if they got to the school records computer and got his picture out of there?

[abner]

Thanks for the ping...

[Rte66]

"they can rather quickly find out Cheema's cell number" ... those Mooselims really *are* organized.

[Snickersnee]

Bad timing blamed for group's detainment

Bad Grammar Blamed for Group's Detention

[TXBubba]

Interesting that you chose to bold the reference to the Norman police but not the polite and professional reference to the FBI.

And you left this out: "Not at all. I understand. They explained. But if they keep coming back -- that's something else," Hossam Barakat said. "Because I'm not guilty in any way."

Barakat, 37, blames unfortunate timing.

No, I still don't see any whining.

[LibertyRocks]

Thanks for posting this Miz. I wonder where Cheema was between 7:30 and midnight... This is the first I've seen about a polygraph as well.

[LibertyRocks]

Thanks for the ping indcons.

[Sacajaweau]

I think I remember that Cheema was scheduled to leave for Algiers soon.

[not2worry]

Why was Barakat the "spokesman" for the group? What was the reason given for issuance of a visa into the US? Was he registered with OU that he was on campus at the same apartment as Hindrich lived and what is his background in Algiers and in the academic community? More questions than answers IMHO.

Has the FBI DHS closed the case?