NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (AP) - A 21-year-old Florida man was charged with battery Wednesday for getting into a fight with two deputies when they tried to take him into custody for having items in his home that were suspicious enough to launch an investigation into whether he has terrorism ties.
Sherif Eleganainy was charged with resisting arrest with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office tweeted that one deputy broke his hand and another took a blow to the head.
The sheriff’s office said investigators were working with the local joint terrorism task force and also the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad on the case.
“I would be foolish to stand here and say this is definitely not connected to terrorism,” Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said on Twitter.
Paramedics were called to the home Wednesday morning after Sherif Eleganainy’s father became unresponsive.
After he was taken to a hospital, his mother called deputies to ask them to check out suspicious fumes that she said may have contributed to her husband’s collapse.
“Suspicious materials” were found in Eleganainy’s bedroom, according to the sheriff’s office, although it wouldn’t elaborate further what they were.
When deputies attempted to arrest Eleganainy, he became violent, the sheriff’s office said.
Eleganainy also faces two charges of domestic battery for pushing his parents earlier in the day, the sheriff’s office said.
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