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BELL COUNTY, Ky. (WATE) — Law enforcement thwarted the plans of a would-be-terrorist, the Bell County, Kentucky Sheriff’s Department reported on social media.
BCSD said that deputies attempted a traffic stop of Maurya Hemendra Bharwad, 23, after receiving reports of “strange” behavior in Knox County, Ky. Law enforcement states that Bharwad refused to stop and had to be boxed in because of “aggressive driving.”
During the stop, Bharwad “began taunting officers multiple times as if waving firearms from his window,” BCSD posted. The officers broke the window with non-lethal rubber rounds, forcing Bharwad to exit.
Officers took him into custody “after a lengthy struggle,” the post says. They did not find a gun in his possession.
While being interviewed, Bharwad said that he “needed a gun for his itchy trigger finger,” according to law enforcement. Law enforcement also said that he stated that “he had looked up how to make a bomb, planned to commit criminal acts in New York City and ‘shut the city down.’” Bharwad also said that he was not in the United States legally and was addicted to marijuana, BCSD reported.
Bharwad was lodged in the Knox County Detention Center and charged with DUI, resisting arrest, contempt of court and menacing and disorderly conduct. He is being held without bond.
According to the post, a Bell County deputy was made aware of an incident on January 27 involving Bharwad “acting strangely” at a Knox County church. A Knox County deputy said that Bharwad had entered the church, opened classroom doors and interrupted classes. Law enforcement also said that Bharwad had been fired from a local college after an anonymous tip about sexual harassment.
Barbourville, Kentucky Police also said that on Jan. 31 Bharwad had attempted to buy a gun but had lied on the form and acted irate with the staff, threatening them. Bharwad later said he was high while trying to purchase the weapon, BCSD posted. The business owner told this to the Barbourville Police, “which led to a ‘Be-On-The-Lookout’ for the man,” BCSD reported.
While talking to the Barbourville Police, two Bell County deputies spotted a vehicle matching Bharwad’s, which led to the aforementioned traffic stop.