Beaumont Police have arrested Ahmed Abdalla Allam, a New York man following numerous reports of a suspicious vehicle near St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School and Temple Emanuel, and investigators seized what they call an AR-15-style assault rifle and ammunition.

The Beaumont Police Department says it responded to numerous reports of a suspicious vehicle, a Toyota Rav 4 with New York license plates, occupied by a lone male, in the area of St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School and Temple Emanuel. Witnesses say the driver would park across the street and stay for hours, sometimes days at a time. The driver was not cooperative with requests to move to a different location and at times was confrontational.

School officials reached out to Beaumont Police Chief Jimmy Singletary and expressed safety concerns for the students and the staff. Beaumont Police, under the direction of Chief Singletary, conducted directed patrol in the area.

Beaumont Police Press Release:

On Sunday, January 29 at 9:00 p.m., Ahmed Abdalla Allam, a 26-year-old man from New York, was operating the black Toyota Rav 4. Police stopped him for a traffic violation in the 700 block of Archie Street. Officers arrested Allam and the officer conducted an inventory of the vehicle subsequent to the arrest. The officer located suspected synthetic marijuana, an AR-15 style assault rifle and ammunition in the vehicle.

Allam was transported to Jefferson County Correctional Facility where he was booked in for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Driving with a Fictitious Plate. Additional federal charges are pending.

Beaumont police investigators are working with Jefferson County District Attorney Keith Giblin, the US Attorney’s Office, ATF and the FBI. Police had assistance from the Port Arthur Fire Department.

Police remind citizens to continue to report suspicious activity. If you see something, say something.