U.S. had deported Edmonton attack suspect
Officials say man accused with hitting cop, pedestrians was kicked out of U.S. in 2011
A man facing attempted murder charges for allegedly ramming pedestrians with a car and stabbing a police officer in Edmonton last weekend was deported from the United States by immigration officials in 2011, The Associated Press reports. Abdulahi Hasan Sharif, a 30year-old Somali refugee, crossed legally into Canada in 2012 at a border crossing and obtained refugee status, according to Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale. Immigration and Customs En- forcement (ICE) said a man — named Abdullahi Hassan Sharif in the agency’s records — was ordered to leave the U.S. The names are spelled slightly differently, but a Canadian and U.S. government official — both of whom requested anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss details of the case — said it is the same man.
A statement from ICE spokesperson Lauren Mack issued Tuesday night said Sharif was transferred on July15, 2011, into ICE custody at Otay Mesa Detention Center, a Californian prison. It isn’t clear exactly why he was detained.
“Sharif had no known criminal history at the time of his encounters with ICE,” the statement said.
He was then ordered in September 2011 to be deported to Somalia. The statement said Sharif “waived his right to appeal that decision,” but was released from custody because he was unlikely to be removed from the U.S. in the near future.
Sharif was supposed to be deported on Jan. 21, 2012, according to ICE, but didn’t show up.
“Efforts by (San Diego ICE officials) to locate him were not successful,” the statement said.
Immigration, Refugees and Citi- zenship Canada said there was no information on Sharif that would have raised any red flags to authorities when he entered Canada in 2012. An immigration-related detention would not prevent someone from making an asylum claim.
Sharif is currently facing 11 charges, including attempted murder and dangerous driving, for allegedly ramming a traffic barrier and stabbing Const. Mike Chernyk, an Edmonton police officer directing traffic in front of a football game on Saturday.
He appeared in court Tuesday by video link. The case was delayed until Nov. 14 so he can find a lawyer.
Video of the fight with Chernyk released on Sunday shows him struggling with the suspect and, despite his injuries, trying to follow as the suspect fled the scene.
The suspect was then allegedly spotted several hours later behind the wheel of a U-Haul van at a police checkpoint in northern Edmonton. During the ensuring chase with police, four pedestrians were allegedly struck by the van.
Sharif was arrested after tactical officers tipped the van on its side, then used a stun grenade and a Taser to subdue him.
None of the victims have died of their injuries. As of Monday, two of the pedestrians remained in hospital — one of whom had a fractured skull.
Edmonton police have considered charging Sharif with terrorism-related offences because investigators found a Daesh flag in his car. With files from Star wire services.