Sarasota Police Investigate Local Saudi-9/11 Connection: "Nope, Nothing To See Here, Folks. Move Along Now...."

The Sarasota Sheriff's Office has closed the case of a possible connection between the 9/11 terrorists and a local Saudi family who fled their home in the prestigious, gated community of Prestancia just days before Sept. 11th, 2001. Sheriff's deputies visited the house in the pricey Palmer Ranch enclave of Prestancia at the request of concerned citizens who grew suspicious of its occupants.

Deputies visited the home and were met at the door by an elderly gentleman, Mr. B.N. Lowden, who claimed to be a "good friend" of the owner, Abdulazzi al-Hiijjii, who was not currently present in the home.

Family friend, Mr. B.N. Lowden

He introduced the wife of the owner, Anoud al-Hiijjii,who said she didn't know when her husband would return.

She said the deputies were welcome to ask his brothers, who were in the backyard discussing the placement of a proposed swimming pool. None of the five siblings could say when their brother, Abdulazzi, would be returning home.

Deputies also noted the presence of a youngster at the home and inquired as to why the boy was not in school. Mrs. al-Hiijjii told the officers that the boy was being home schooled and did not attend a Sarasota County school. They said they understood and commended the mother for letting the boy express his 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms, when so many other parents needlessly fretted over children having access to firearms.

A Sheriff's Dept. spokescop said that the deputies had thoroughly investigated the home and its occupants and found nothing out of the ordinary and the case was considered closed. The report ended by stating the obvious: "It's Sarasota."

Deputies did not, however, want to waste an entire afternoon of police work with nothing to show for it, so they issued a citation to Mr. Earl Wingdammer, who lives in an adjacent cul-de-sac, charging the octogenarian with allowing his grass to exceed the prescribed limit of 2 3/8" in height. He was fined $250.