Comedian and actor arrested at SFO says he was 'tortured' in Bay Area jail in new lawsuit

Ahmed Ahmed, a 55-year-old comedian, is suing the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department over his September 2025 arrest at San Francisco International Airport. The complaint alleges deputies assaulted him at the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City while he was handcuffed and restrained in an isolation room with a hood over his head. Ahmed says the injuries included a broken wrist, elbow and rib, plus bruises from punches and kicks, and he was released the next day without charges. He describes the incident as a coercive act that violated his rights and dignity. The lawsuit asserts assault, battery, negligence and racial discrimination against the agency. Lawyers from Trial Lawyers for Justice say Ahmed was targeted as a Muslim man and that jail personnel failed to protect him. A sheriff's office spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The suit seeks accountability, civil damages, and reforms to jail practices, highlighting concerns about use of force and detainee treatment in the Bay Area.