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Crime

Police Arrest Phoenix Filmmaker For Staging Fake Terrorist Attack Using Toy Grenade Launcher

Sep. 26, 2012 8:55pm Jason Howerton

PHOENIX (TheBlaze/AP) — A Phoenix man dressed his nephew in a sheet and sent him into a busy street with a fake grenade launcher, filming the masked teenager pointing the weapon at passing cars to see how long it took police to respond, authorities said.

Michael D. Turley was arrested Monday, nearly two months after the bizarre film was posted to YouTube. He posted $5,000 bond and was released.

In the film, the narrator, who police identified as Turley, said he wanted to see how long it took authorities to respond to a terrorist incident. The introduction to the video mentions the July 20 theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., that killed 12.

“Given this event, I wanted to run a little test here in Phoenix, Arizona,” Turley said. “I want to find out how safe I really am, and I want to know the response time of the Phoenix police department.”

The YouTube clip shows the masked teen marching back and forth at an intersection with the rocket-propelled grenade launcher on his shoulder.

Michael Turley Arrested After Staging Fake Terrorist Attack Using Toy Grenade Launcher

(source: YouTube)

The first officer finds Turley and the teen in a neighborhood, standing in Turley’s driveway.

The officer calmly tells the boy to put down the weapon and Turley to put down the camera. He doesn’t draw his gun.

Officer James Holmes, a police spokesman, said Turley told the officer they were just filming a movie, and the officer took down their names and left.

Watch the entire video below:

After interviewing people who called 911 and later seeing the video posted on YouTube, police arrested Turley.

“It surprised us that he actually put that video on You Tube,” Holmes said.

The police response took just over three minutes from the first call, and a helicopter and SWAT team was dispatched as backup, Holmes said.

Turley, 39, doesn’t have a listed phone number. He didn’t immediately respond to messages sent through the YouTube account.

Police also are recommending charges against the teen, whose name was not released because he is a minor.

Turley was charged with creating a false impression of a terrorist act, endangerment, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and misconduct involving simulated explosives.

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Comments (54)

00100111
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:51am
Sounds more like he got charged with “embarrassing the police dept”.

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- ginger100
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 11:08am
  Halloween is coming up
  
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THe_Chemist
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:45am
Anyone else think he was really that scary looking? lol i’m sorry but it looked like a teenager in a bad halloween costume.

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- paulwbrown
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 11:08am
  He could have easily got himself shot by a responsible armed citizen seeing what could be a terrorist in action. It is rather remarkable to me that no one made an effort to take down the idiot.
  
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lawrench
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 9:38am
Our governments actually claim that they train for the possibility of a Terrorist Attack. With that being said, people naturally become complacent. I think it is a good idea to test the governments preparedness. However, it was dumb to use minors.

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displaced
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 9:31am
This guy was an idiot! He’s lucky a citizen did not blow him away.

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TexasIndependant
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 7:47am
Im surprised no one shot the kid. In Texas when the police arrived they would of only needed a body bag. MANY people carry here.

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- lordjosh
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 7:58am
  I agree. This guy put his nephew at grave risk. However the charges are phony and even more offensive.
  “Turley was charged with creating a false impression of a terrorist act, endangerment, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and misconduct involving simulated explosives.” What a joke. Get ready to get hosed by the revenue agents!
  
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- 000degrees
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 8:23am
  I would not think twice about it. Bang Bang…… Truly lucky they were not shot. My thought was how did all these citizens let this guy walk around for that long????? Plenty of other “weapons” could have disabled him…….
  
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- Pearsontech
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 9:53am
  I don’t see that this really tested police response at all. Granted the police are saying it was just 1 min after the 911 call I tend to think that is about around. What this really tested is the american people’s unwillingness to believe the danger that we are all in and to blow off something and crazy stupid or retarded and not think anything of it.
  
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Marcia
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 6:59am
What a freaking idiot this guy is! That would scare the snot out of me if I saw that kind of thing! The state should make him pay for the police response – every dime of it AND put him and his nephew in jail for a long long, time!

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everydaywoman
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 3:17am
Where is this kid’s PARENTS?!

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flyer469
Posted on September 27, 2012 at 12:50am
I live a very aware life. Had I been driving and saw this, I would not have hesitated to stop my car and shoot this guy! Would I have been a criminal had I shot him?

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- Black Tiger
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 3:43am
  Phoenix, huh? I live near Tucson, had this happened anywhere near me, that kid would either be on life support or on a slab at the Pima County FSC.
  
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CulperGang
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 11:21pm
wanna see some real terrorising action? check this out@

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lkZSKI-kmA&feature=related

and what is our dhs doing? http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/08/employees/

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- db321
  Posted on September 26, 2012 at 11:50pm
  I would have taken cover and shot.
  
  Report this comment
- chalkdust
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 12:34am
  That story was on the Blaze months ago.
  
  A bad cop is not necessarily a terrorist.
  
  Report this comment
- GunSlingerTexas
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 10:39am
  Great vids. Never let the police in if they do not have a warrant or probable cause. Question them, but do not resist. As for DHS arresting their people. That is because your politicians force the hiring processes to be streamlined so they can implement their new laws and policies. This causes the hiring requirements to be lowered and therefore you have more trash getting hired. And your politicians do not care. Just like when they make unconstitutional laws or release prisoners from jails, politicians dont care, because more crime gives them more reasons to be involved. Gives them more reasons to do more searches, create more laws. What I would like to see is a politician REPEALING LAWS, not passing laws. The US is a police state. Everything you write is being recorded in violation of the US Constitution. Remember God gives you your freedom, the US Constitution is supposed to restrict gov, ie politicians from violating your freedoms, MAN (politicians) takes away your freedom when you just go along with it and dont fight their tyrannical rules. The Phoenix PD should be sued under title 42 for this mans arrest. Freedom of speech can only stand if you act against these tyrants!
  
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Meyvn1
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 11:14pm
Dumbass alert!

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The-Monk
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 10:08pm
“The officer calmly tells the boy to put down the weapon and Turley to put down the camera. He doesn’t draw his gun.”

Yep, never bring a pistol to a RPG fight……

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- oldguy49
  Posted on September 26, 2012 at 11:03pm
  lucky someone didn’t shoot this idiot………….
  
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- 13th Imam
  Posted on September 26, 2012 at 11:11pm
  What would have happened if someone ran the idiot over with his car?
  
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CrismaFire
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:48pm
I think it was a good idea but I would have been discreet cause that is what a real liberal oops I mean terrorist would do.

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korbin
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:38pm
I might add this behavior by our Government is exactly what they want. TO quiet those who dissent, they want all of us to be afraid to speak our minds so they make arrests to show their might. I know all of these sites are monitored by NSA ad the rest of the alphabet soup agencies. I will never be quiet, I believe 100% in our US Constitution and will never allow this or any other Government to silence me. Live free or die….

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Saving_the_Republic.com
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:37pm
This guy is so lucky someone didnt cap him or run him over! I guess the dress yea I said dress(for any ****** lover offened) was enough for ppl to know he was making a joke of it. But had he been in fatigues or jeans and normal shirt with the head covering this would be a different story!

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- TerryJ2
  Posted on September 26, 2012 at 10:06pm
  You’re right, I live just east of Phoenix, and carry at all times, I’m not sure I would have shot him, but I would definitely drew down on him if he had pointed that thing my way without firing.
  
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PointBreak
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:30pm
The making the video isn’t the bad guy here. He pointed out a seriously weak link in the chain; us. We all know the cops are worthless but 15 minutes worth of people doing nothing is the saddest thing I’ve ever seen. Good on him for putting themselves in harms way making this video to point out our collective yellow streak and shame on the people of Arizona for being a bunch of cowards.

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korbin
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:27pm
My guess besides the conditioning all of us on the use of NDAA is that the law enforcement are as usual inept and they are embarrassed, nothing was done prior to this becoming a news story. I think the guy’s is an idiot good way to get shot ( by a legal CCW citizens ) Law enforcement have become in general EGO police state followers. keep your oath….. oath keepers.org

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Ars21689
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:25pm
You know, if I was driving by and saw someone carrying what appeared to be an RPG in a hood, I’d be tempted to hit him with my car. And if he actually pointed it at my vehicle? Yeah I would have slammed on the gas. He’s a lucky idiot.

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noslave
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:15pm
not relative to this but i wish they would keep running the original film showing the terroists attack on stevens compound,holding rpgs etc.no protestors to be found anywhere ??looked like the scarface movie with al pachino, when the hit squad over-ran scarface compound on security screens??to obama,rice,etc.spontanious riots/protest my azzz.do you think americas that stupid??maybe your supporters.

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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:12pm
These idiots are fortunate that someone carrying concealed did not engage.

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- Dr Vel
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 3:41am
  What does concealed you all keep mentioning have to do with it? This is Phoenix, a city I wore a gun openly on my hip for 30 years. No permit, no asking permission, no nanny state gee please can I protect myself questions. It’s the law there. While you may need a permit to carry concealed I found I was left alone in bad parts of town like 24th St/Southern most often when there was no doubt in anyone’s mind yes that was a real Desert Eagle 50 cal Action Express in a holster clearly visible.
  
  I do not think the public was being a coward for getting on out of there they could not be sure the RPG was not real and only an idiot would approach such a weapon with a clearly inferior pistol.
  
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Moseyspeed
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:11pm
The young man is lucky someone with a conceal carry license didn’t drive by.

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- WATER-THE-TREE
  Posted on September 26, 2012 at 11:19pm
  I hear about concealed carry license , we should not need a special license , we already have one it is called the US constitution!
  
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- Shoot2Stop
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 3:58am
  Arizona is one of four states that have enacted what is commonly called ‘Constitutional Carry’, where any non-felon adult can carry a firearm without a permission slip from big brother. Vermont has always had constitutional carry. Alaska passed a similar law a few years back, as did Montana. Several other states are considering doing the same.
  
  All but one state, Illinois, has at least some form of licensed concealed carry. Believe it or not, even a few of us in the People’s Republic of Kalifornia have a permit to pack a gun. I would never leave home unarmed anymore than I would leave undressed.
  
  One of the planks in the current Republican platform is reciprocity across all states; where those who have a gun permit can travel across state lines without fear of arrest.
  
  .
  
  Report this comment
exposejesuits
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:10pm
Jesuit Alumni in the Obama Administration and 112th U.S. Congress

http://www.ajcunet.edu/Jesuit-Alumni-Obama

WASHINGTON, DC – Ten percent of the 112th U.S. Congress are Jesuit college and university alumni/ae. Among the 535 Members of this Congress, 54 of them are alumni/ae of Jesuit institutions. At least 30 alums also serve in appointed positions in the Obama Administration.
There are 12 Jesuit alumni/ae in the Senate and 42 in the House of Representatives. Among the top leadership, Congressmen John Boehner (R-OH) is serving as Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) serves as the House Minority Whip. In the Senate, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) continues as the Assistant Majority Leader.
Of these 54 alumni/ae, 36 received graduate or professional degrees from Jesuit universities. There are 18 Jesuit institutions represented by alumni/ae in the U.S. Congress. Georgetown University has the most alumni/ae with a total of 18; followed by Boston College with 7; the College of the Holy Cross and Fordham University each tied with 4; while Creighton University, Marquette University, and the University of Detroit Mercy each have 3.
“With the many challenges facing our nation, we are happy that our Jesuit college and university alumni/ae continue to play important roles in Congress and the Administration,” said AJCU President Fr. Charles Currie, S.J. “Their commitment to lead and to serve is in the best Jesuit tradition.”
Obama A

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- KevINtampa
  Posted on September 26, 2012 at 10:07pm
  Great post, off topic though it is… I too can attest to the fact that a Jesuit education is a damn fine education.
  
  I’ve attended other educational institutions, both private and public, and none of them ever came close to the requirements of work, service, and dedication required for a person to have success at a Jesuit institution. It’s not surprising to me that many Jesuit alumni reach high places with in society. Why should it be? Again, to succeed at a Jesuit institution you must recognize the importance of work, service, and dedication; and people who grasp that concept generally do pretty well in life so it shouldn’t be surprising to see them in successful positions outside of academics.
  
  It seems you think there’s some sort of Jesuit conspiracy? Well, it’s no secret, their goal is to provide the best education humanly possible, not just in academics but in morality and ethics as well.
  
  Read this: http://www.edocere.org/articles/jesuit_model_education.htm
  
  Jesuit degrees also require hundreds of hours of community service.
  
  Name me another educational philosophy that teaches and holds dear the values academics, ethics, and of community service to such a high degree as the Jesuits. You are right to expose the Jesuit educational philosophy, America needs more of this type of education as it’s in way too short of supply.
  
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PutMoreOnMyPlate
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:10pm
Someone should tell the MSM that the name is more common than they thought.

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exposejesuits
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:10pm
The Vatican invented Islam, to kill Christians and non-Catholics “The Vatican wanted to create a messiah for the Arabs, someone they could raise up as a great leader, a man with charisma whom they could train, and eventually unite all the non-Catholic Arabs behind him, creating a mighty army that would ultimately capture Jerusalem for the pope. In the Vatican briefing, Cardinal Bea told us this story:

‘A wealthy Arabian lady who was a faithful follower of the pope played a tremendous part in this drama. She was a widow named Khadijah. She gave her wealth to the church and retired to a convent, but was given an assignment. She was to find a brilliant young man who could be used by the Vatican to create a new religion and become the messiah for the children of Ishmael. Khadijah had a cousin named Waraquah,, who was also a very faithful Roman Catholic and the Vatican placed him in a critical role as Muhammad’s advisor. He had tremendous influence on Muhammad. While Muhammad was being prepared, he was told that his enemies were the Jews and that the only true Christians were Roman Catholic. He was taught that others calling themselves Christians were actually wicked impostors and should be destroyed. Many Muslims believe this.

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- Elena2010
  Posted on September 26, 2012 at 11:56pm
  Watch out folks — another mental patient just escaped.
  
  Islam is Arabian in character thru and thru. It was not invented by the Vatican. The Vatican had its hands full in Italy at the time islam first popped its ugly head up.
  
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- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on September 27, 2012 at 12:30pm
  Buy new tin foil. The rays from Alpha Centuri are getting through your hat. Quick or the Jesuits will beam down and get you.
  
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OklahomaBound
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:06pm
Where do you buy a toy grenade launcher, online at ‘Terrorists-R-Us’ in Iran?

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Psychosis
Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:05pm
you cant fix stupid

too bad he has offspring

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- deano24
  Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:26pm
  I wonder what gave them the idea that this would’ve been a good idea to film & post to youtube. The nephew was lucky that someone with a gun didn’t shoot him as he was running around.
  
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- PoliticiansRCrooks
  Posted on September 26, 2012 at 9:55pm
  Fix stupid? He was proving a point that you can’t stop a terrorist. It took them 15 minutes to show up. Imagine what could have happened in 15 minutes if he was a real terrorist.
  
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