A suspected illegal immigrant was arrested in South Carolina on Thursday after officials said he made a false bomb threat during a traffic stop that ultimately led to the closure of a portion of Interstate 85 for nearly five hours.
Ahmad Jamal Khamees Alhendi, 28, was pulled over by state traffic police around 2:45 p.m. for missing a license plate on his tractor trailer, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (SCDPS).
Then Alhendi said a policeman that there is an explosive device in the commercial vehicle.
Ahmad Jamal Khamees Alhendi was arrested in South Carolina after officials say he made a false bomb threat during a traffic stop. (Greenville County Detention Center)
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All six lanes of I-85 were subsequently closed while the threat was investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the FBI.
The stop, which occurred near Mile Marker 44, led to long delays and snarled traffic.
The 18-wheeler was eventually freed and all lanes of I-85 reopened around 7:40 p.m.
Alhendi appeared in court on Friday, and was accused of giving a false notification about a bomb threat, disturbing public order and peace of a high and serious nature and not having a driving license.
A police car blocks a section of I-85 near Mile Marker 44 and White Horse Road in Greenville County due to a bomb threat on January 2, 2025. (ALEX HICKS JR./STAFF / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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He was given a total bond of $20,238 on all three charges and sent to the Greenville County Detention Center, Fox Carolina reports.
A spokesperson for the Greenville County Detention Center told Fox News Digital that Alhendi was placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), where there is a notice of potential illegal immigrant who may be removed from the country.
Police direct traffic after bomb threat on I-85. (ALEX HICKS JR./STAFF / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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Fox News Digital reached out to ICE and FBI for more information about Alhendi.
SCDPS said the tractor trailer is registered to Globe Transportation in Illinois.
A company spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that Alhendi works for Globe Transportation, but the company did not make any statements at the time.
