KALISPELL — The Flathead County Sheriff's Office reports they are still searching for Naseem Ali Saleh Mohammed, who illegally crossed the United States-Canada border on the weekend of January 23.
Sheriff Brian Heino said Mohammed was taken into the custody of the Border Patrol in Whitefish; agents scanned his fingerprints and found no history of criminal convictions or immigration violations in the U.S.
Sheriff Heino said the agents released Mohammed before the agents received information that he had warrants in Saskatoon, Canada in connection with a homicide.
Canadian news outlet TheProvince.com said: "Mohammed, a member of the Brothers Keepers gang, has been escalating tensions for weeks in the Lower Mainland gang conflict by posting violent rap songs and live videos on Instagram advocating murder and celebrating hits on rivals such as Red Scorpion Gary Kang, who started a group called BIBO — or Blood In, Blood Out."
Sheriff Heino said it has been several days since the authorities have received any tips, but to remain on guard if you see Mohammed.
Mohammed is 22 years old, 5'5" tall with a medium build, and was last seen wearing a camo jacket, black pants, and high-cut "muck" boots.
He was one of five people suspected in an illegal border crossing into Montana near Eureka that led to a high-speed car chase and the arrest of three people.
Anyone who has seen Mohammed, or knows of his whereabouts, is asked to call 911 or the Flathead County Sheriff's Office at 406-752-8477.
(JANUARY 28) Three men suspected in an illegal border crossing into Montana near Eureka and arrested after a high-speed car chase made their initial appearances in court on Thursday.
The driver of the Nissan Sentra was identified as Rastesfaye Alpha Neil (United States Citizen), and the passengers were Christopher White (Jamaica Citizen), Naseem Ali Momammed aka Bati Ahmed (Somalia National, Canadian Legal Permanent Resident), and Afrah Ahmed Abdi (United States Legal Permanent Resident, Somalia National).
Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said in a news release that criminal complaints have been filed against White, Neil, and Abdi; there is no word yet on what charges may be filed against the other two people.
The complaints accuse White of being an alien in the United States after deportation, Neil of transporting certain aliens, and Abdi of improper entry by alien.
Court documents state that on January 23 at about 8:55 a.m., the Spokane Sector Border Patrol Dispatch received information that three people dressed in camouflage and dark clothing and carrying black backpacks were crossing the border from Canada into the United States near the area of West Kootenai in Montana.
Border Patrol agents located a Nissan Sentra on West Kootenai road leaving the area where the three people had crossed into the United States. The agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop, and the Nissan eventually pulled to the side of the road. As agents walked toward the vehicle, the Nissan sped away and headed southeast on Highway 93.
Officers ultimately used a vehicle immobilization device on the Nissan, and it came to a stop down a small embankment off the highway near Whitefish. The three people were then arrested.
The news release notes that a criminal complaint is only an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John Johnston presided. The three defendants were detained pending further proceedings.
