A man who claims “diplomatic and sovereign status” has sued the University of South Carolina’s police department in federal court over claims of unlawful arrest, unlawful incarceration and misconduct. He says his Constitutional rights were violated.
Bilal Faheem Salahuddin said he was stopped by USC police on June 13 for having a “fake” license plate and was forcefully removed him from his car, “slammed” to the ground and hog-tied, which caused physical damage, including a concussion, and emotional distress.
He was wrongfully detained, according to a court filing.
He also claimed “inhumane” treatment in jail, including denial of food, a bed and adequate medical care, despite “head trauma.” He missed a bond hearing as a result, court filing said.
Salahuddin is demanding financial compensation. The lawsuit is demanding $100,000 per every five minutes of what he describes as unlawful detention, restraint or seizure, as well as $1 million for any defamation, denial of rights or injury.
A university spokesman declined to comment on the pending litigation. The State asked for any available body camera or dashcam footage of the incident, and was denied. The State has filed a public records request for the footage.
What does the police report say?
USC police were patrolling the area Greene and Laurens streets around 2 p.m. on June 13 when an officer saw a white Ford Crown Victoria bearing a U.S. Department of Transportation license plate, a fake tag “often used by sovereign citizens” to conceal vehicle registration violations, according to a police report obtained by The State.
While driving westbound on Greene Street , police saw the driver drift in and out of its lane.
Officers ran the plates, and no such vehicle was registered through the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles , nor with the National Crime Information Center .
The car parked, and police pulled behind it and approached the driver, according to the police report. He refused to provide license, registration and proof of insurance, and told officers he would not do so until officers called USDOT to verify his tag.
Police eventually identified the driver as Salahuddin by his U.S. passport.
Officers told Salahuddin that the tag was “fake and not legal in the state of South Carolina,” according to the police report. Salahuddin continued using “sovereign citizen verbiage” and claimed he was an “ambassador” and that police had no legal reason to stop him.
Salahuddin began rolling up his window, which was darkly tinted. Because of the growing noncompliance, one officer opened the driver’s side door, the police report said. When Salahuddin put his hand in his left pocket, which had a “visible unknown bulge.” Police began removing him from the car, “took him to the ground” and put him in a shoulder lock.
He never mentioned any pain during the encounter, according to the police report.
Salahuddin was handcuffed and put in the back of the patrol car. He then complained that he was not feeling well and might pass out, according to the police report, and asked for emergency medical services. He then began dry heaving and hyperventilating.
He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, where he complained of neck pain that he believed to be caused by officers. Salahuddin was then discharged after refusing further medical treatment. Salahuddin was cited for driving under suspension, improper display, no vehicle registration, no vehicle insurance and failure to maintain lane of travel. He was then taken to Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center .
A search of Salahuddin’s car revealed an empty marijuana jar, a portable weight scale, and a Wesson 9mm handgun and 9mm ammunition, according to the report.
The gun was checked, and was not connected to any crimes or prohibitions.
Salahuddin’s driving record, however, showed that he was “indefinitely suspended” for cancellation of insurance as of March 2023 , and the car’s registration had expired as of September 2023 .
Claims rejected in federal court
The complaint against USC police is one of three pending cases in which Salahuddin has tried to remove state criminal cases related to traffic violations. The other cases involve the Elgin Police Department and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, according to court filings.
Salahuddin failed to establish federal jurisdiction in the case, U.S. Magistrate Judge Paige Gossett wrote. The case, she said, should be handed over to Richland County Central Court .
November 14, 2025 | State, The: Web Edition Articles (Columbia, SC)
Author/Byline: Alexa Jurado, The State | Section: crime