SPRING HILL, Fla. – A 38-year-old Spring Hill man is behind bars facing a variety of charges after he took his four children from their mother, who has sole custody of the kids, without permission.
Muharib Fahim Kursheed was apprehended and his children safely recovered just before 7 p.m. near Clearwater. The suspect was booked into the Pinellas County Jail where he is being held without bond.
Per a Hernando County Sheriff’s Office report, Kursheed showed up at the woman’s home in Spring Hill just before 10 a.m. Friday. A short time later, the kids came out of the house and got into Kursheed’s car.
He drove away with the children which is a violation of a court order filed by the mother against the suspect in March. She attempted to follow Kursheed in her vehicle but lost sight of his vehicle at the intersection of Spring Hill and Waterfall drives.
The victim immediately called 9-1-1 to report the incident. According to the court order, Kursheed was not to have any contact with the children or their mother. She told detectives with the department’s Major Case squad that the suspect may attempt to flee the state or country with the children.
Investigators worked many leads with assistance from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Clearwater Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
At approximately 6:30 p.m. Clearwater Police located Kursheed’s vehicle at the residence of a known associate. A short time later, authorities moved in and arrested the suspect without incident. The children were located inside the home and returned safely to their mother.
Kursheed is facing four counts of interference with child custody and five counts of violation of domestic injunction.
Additional charges are pending as the investigation continues.
