Posted on 02/01/2007 3:16:22 AM PST by billorites
A furious Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino vowed yesterday to throw the book at the masterminds behind a guerrilla marketing campaign gone amok that plunged the city into bomb-scare pandemonium and blew nearly $1 million in police overtime and other costs.
As city and state attorneys laid groundwork for criminal charges and lawsuits, cops seized 27-year-old Arlington multimedia artist Peter Berdovsky, who posted film on his Web site boasting that he and friends planted the battery-wired devices, and Sean Stevens, 28, of Charlestown. Both were jailed overnight on charges of placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct.
“This is outrageous activity to get publicity for a failing show,” said Menino, referring to the battery-operated light-up ads for the Cartoon Network’s “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” which sparked at least nine bomb scares in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville.
Menino promised to sue Turner Broadcasting Co., the Cartoon Network’s parent company, and criminally prosecute Berdovsky and anyone else responsible for the devices, and to petition the FCC to pull the network’s license.
Attorney General Martha Coakley was put in charge of the case and said the companies behind the promotion would be investigated. She said the felony charge of planting a hoax device could be broad enough to allow prosecution even if the stunt’s sponsors did not intend a panic.
“To do this kind of placement of devices the way it was, an individual had to know or should have that it was going to create the kind of panic it did,” Coakley said last night during a press conference.
Panic was the order of the day in Boston as city, state and federal investigators, police and bomb units raced through the city seeking 38 of the devices, in some cases destroying them as a precaution.
Shutdowns affected Storrow and Memorial drives, the Longfellow and Boston University bridges and Interstate 93, while extra Coast Guard patrols were seen at Rowes Wharf and at commuter ferries.
“I cannot state strongly enough the seriousness of this offense,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley. “Commerce was disrupted, transportation routes were paralyzed, residents were stranded, relatives across the nation were in fear for their loved ones here in the city of Boston.”
In a statement, Turner Broadcasting said the light-emitting devices pose no danger and are part of a 10-city outdoor marketing campaign for the cartoon program. A Boston police spokesman said the company did not have permits to place the signs in the city.
“We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger,” the Turner statment said.
All told, the cost of extra police and activating the city’s anti-terror command center will cost Boston $800,000 to $1 million in damages, an angry Menino estimated.
Gov. Deval Patrick said he was not impressed by the apology from Turner Broadcasting.“I am deeply dismayed to learn that the devices are a part of a marketing campaign. This stunt has caused considerable disruption and anxiety in our community,” he said.
The bomb scare reports began about 8 a.m. when a MBTA worker reported a package with wires and tubes protruding from it that was stuck on a steel girder under Interstate 93 at Sullivan Square Station in Charlestown. The devices, featuring characters with raised middle fingers, had magnetic backs and were affixed to metal.
The reports spread throughout the day to the Boston University and Longfellow bridges, Downtown Crossing, the intersection of Stuart Street and Columbus Avenue, the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Memorial Drive in Cambridge, the McCarthy Overpass on the McGrath O’Brien Highway in Somerville and at a comic book store in Brighton.
The discovery of two more devices last night at the Massachusetts College of Art prompted another brief evacuation. By the end of the day, investigators had recovered 14 of the 38 devices believed to be placed in the Boston area and urged the public to report the whereabouts of others.
Just after three p.m., two bomb-sniffing dogs swept through City Hall, spending 16 minutes in Menino’s office. “It is outrageous, in a post 9/11 world, that a company would use this irresponsible marketing scheme,” Menino said.
The faulty software episode was highlighted in the book that I mentioned. Mr. Weiss, who devised the plan was one of few bright lights in the intellignece community. The Russians stole from us for decades before being hammered by the Weiss plan. It is difficult to say when Communism would have collapsed if they were not able to steal our technology or borrow (swindle) our fincial aid.
How in the hell do you get from LED signs to radioactive Happy Meals.
The hysteria surrounding this would be hilarious if it weren't so profoundly embarrassing.
If they can be shown to have intentionally posted these devices in order to provoke the police response that they did, they will be subject to laws a lot more serious than a sign ordinance. As well they should be.
They were not hidden.
Embarrassing... to whom?
LOL
Interesting analogy, and entirely appropriate. Menino, his police and the entire city of Boston ran off a cliff like a herd of spooked cattle.
As was entirely predictable, much as cows can be predicted to stampede away from fireworks.
So you have these people acting with forethought to intentionally provoke a predictable response from the police. For that they are going to pay dearly.
"So you have these people acting with forethought to intentionally provoke a predictable response from the police. For that they are going to pay dearly."
You should post a disclaimer that is your opinion and not a fact.
I doubt that in their wildest of dreams did they anticipate such a ridiculous response.
They went about placing them in plain view with cameras rolling. Are the streets of Boston vacated of people and police at night?
Now we already know the people of Boston and the state have vacated their brains since they continue to re elect the likes of Kennedy and Kerry. So I don't expect all that much from them. But one at the least would expect some LEO to ask them what they were doing as they placed 38 of them in plain view about Boston with cameras rolling.
Your hysteria reminds me of the reaction of the mayor. Somebody is going to pay for exposing the incompetence of the politicos and the LEOs of Boston in this matter...that's the one true fact.
One of these punks is going to roll on the others. After that, the rest of them are going to be in a world of hurt!
LOL!
Embarrassing to all the Marys and Bettys wringing their hands and crying about these devices being "intentionally designed to look like a bomb." Embarrassing to the city of Boston and everyone who thinks Mumbles and his crew handled this properly.
Ridiculous, panicky, paranoid B.S.
It looks like a jury is going to get to decide this issue. I will bet you dollars to donuts that one of the people involved in this campaign is going to own up to the fact that a police response was part of the viral marketing plan. If the state gets testimony like that from one of the people involved, it is going to be very hard for the others.
Absent any proof on intent, though, I agree that they should walk. We will see when this thing goes to trial.
Two fake pipe-bombs were also found yesterday. Boston embarrasses itself in many ways every day... in this case the PD did what they were supposed to do.
I cant believe this BS went to 335 Posts.
In the case of fake pipe bombs, sure. In the case of lite brites, no way. Do not conflate the two.
They are quite rightfully a laughingstock.
It will go to trial before twelve of those mindless rampaging cattle.
Twelve of their fellow citizens, sworn and true. If you can think of a better system, I'd like to hear it.
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