‘I’m Part Of ISIS’ Pasco Man Told Mom Before Wednesday Arrest: Sheriff

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force have found no formal ties between a 21-year-old New Port Richey man and terrorist organizations. Even so, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco says Sherif Elganainy is a "very dangerous person” and has proclaimed to his mother in the past that he is a “terrorist.”

Elganainy was brought into custody Wednesday morning after a series of unusual events occurred at his parents’ home in the 11900 block of Carissa Lane in the Summertree subdivision in New Port Richey. Authorities were first called out to the home for a medical emergency involving Elganainy’s elderly father. A secondary call involving a welfare check on Elganainy’s mother tipped deputies off to the possibility of chemicals being inside the home.

Members of the Hillsborough County Bomb Squad, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and the Joint Terrorism Task Force spent much of Wednesday evening going through Elganainy’s possessions and recovering chemicals from the home, Nocco said during a Thursday press conference.

“We found chemical precursors that were in his room last night,” Nocco said. “He was researching … how to make further chemical devices.”

Nocco would not elaborate on the types of chemicals found, but said they were not the kind of chemicals used in the production of narcotics.

Elganainy’s possible ties to terrorism or homegrown radicalization are still being investigated by the task force and sheriff’s office, Nocco said.

Elganainy’s mother told detectives Wednesday her son has made statements when he gets mad, Nocco said. “He says, ‘I’m a terrorist,’ or ‘I’m part of ISIS,’” Nocco said, adding that “there’s nothing we’ve found that validates anything."

While no direct ties to a terrorist cell or organization have been found, Nocco said the investigation remains very much active.

“(We’re) investigating computers, cellphones … trying to look for connections,” Nocco said. “There’s certain things I can’t tell you. We believe we have a lot to prosecute him (on). I want to put this person away for as long as I can."

Rude Awakening

The series of events that led to Elganainy’s Wednesday arrest began to unfold in the early morning hours Wednesday, Dec. 21 when his father and mother noticed a strange smell in their home, Nocco said. The father, who has not been named, began ventilating the home. A dispute between Sherif and his parents ensued, which led to an incident of domestic battery, Nocco said.

Shortly afterwards, the father lost consciousness and Pasco County Fire Rescue was called to the home. Sherif and his father went with paramedics to a local hospital while the mother stayed home.

Once alone, Nocco said the mother called relatives and expressed fears about being with her son. Those relatives called Pasco deputies. Two deputies arrived at the home around 8 a.m. and began talking to the mother about Sherif and her concerns about him.

As the deputies were talking with the mother, they saw “signs of narcotics and chemicals inside,” Nocco said. Sherif came home while the deputies were there, but a fight broke out when deputies tried to handcuff him. “(It) turns into an extremely violent situation," Nocco said.

Body cam video released of the incident shows Sherif and the two deputies struggling. Sherif is accused of trying to grab one of the deputy’s guns, but was unable to remove it from its holster, Nocco said. One of the deputies suffered a broken bone in his hand and the other head injuries before Sherif Elganainy was brought into custody.

Sherif also suffered minor injuries during the fight and required medical clearance before being booked into the Pasco County Jail.

“If you attack a law enforcement officer, bad things will happen to you,” Nocco said. "Don't batter or put your hands on a Pasco deputy. We're going to win. I promise you that."

The Charges So Far

Elganainy is being held in the Pasco County Jail on a number of charges related to the domestic disturbance with his parents and the alleged attack on deputies. Those charges include two counts of domestic battery, two counts of resisting arrest with violence and one count each of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and battery on a law enforcement officer, Nocco said.

Elganainy has a “long juvenile record” in Osceola County, Nocco added. Previous charges include domestic batteries, including an aggravated domestic battery with strangulation.

Additional charges related to the chemicals and narcotics found in the home Wednesday are pending the outcome of the joint investigation, Nocco said. The FBI confirmed Thursday that its agents are continuing to work the case.

“This is an active investigation so we cannot share any details other than to emphasize there is no threat to public safety,” an email from the FBI’s Tampa office said.

As for the deputies injured during Wednesday’s arrest, Nocco said they are doing “OK,” but are expected to be out of work for a while as they recover. Their identities have not yet been released.

To watch the body cam footage of the arrest, visit the sheriff’s office’s YouTube channel. Note: The footage is graphic and may not be suitable for young viewers.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office