Egyptian man with immigration issues held without bail in Harford (Baltimore Sun)

Egyptian man with immigration issues held without bail in Harford

BY KIRSTEN DIZE

August 7, 2011 | 1:30 p.m.

An Egyptian man who has been living in Abingdon was held without bail in Harford County Friday after he was arrested on traffic and drug-related charges.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has made several attempts to deport Sherif Ahmad Mansour, Harford County Assistant State's Attorney Melissa Lambert told the judge at Mansour's bail review hearing Friday in Harford County District Court. Mansour is an Egyptian citizen, she said.

Mansour, 33, who lives with a roommate in the 3000 block of Forsythia Court in Abingdon, was arrested and charged Wednesday after a traffic stop in Bel Air.

Bel Air Police stopped Mansour at Hays Street and Churchville Road and charged him with failing to stop at a stop sign, driving while his license and privilege were suspended, possession of marijuana, two counts of possessing a drug other than marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Mansour's public defender, Brian Cunningham, said Mansour is not married, has a 2-year-old child and works as a cook at Bellissimo Seafood Bar and Grill in Bel Air.

Cunningham asked District Judge Mimi R. Cooper to leave the bail at $3,000 as initially set by court commissioners.

Lambert said Mansour was being held on an immigration detainer and has previously failed to appear in court.

Cooper decided to hold Mansour without bail so he can face the local charges then be picked up by ICE agents.

"I don't understand how he can work at Bellissimo and ICE not pick him up," Cooper said.