Ex-Redmond man allegedly bought bomb parts at Bend Wal-Mart
By Nina Mehlhaf, KTVZ.COM and news sources
Investigators on Tuesday arrested the father of a man suspected of carrying out the bombing at a Woodburn bank that killed two police officers.
Marion County sheriff's deputies said they arrested 57-year-old Bruce Turnidge Tuesday morning on conspiracy to build and possess explosives charges. Investigators earlier had searched at a location on Potts Road in rural southern Marion County, deputies said.
Meanwhile, court documents show two law enforcement officers killed in Friday's bombing believed the device was a hoax and were trying to open it when it exploded.
A probable cause statement in the case of bombing suspect Joshua Turnidge, 32, says Oregon State Police Senior Trooper William Hakim inspected and X-rayed a green metal box found Friday outside the West Coast Bank building in Woodburn.
The document says Hakim was confident it was a hoax device, so he took it inside.
The statement says a bank employee saw Hakim trying to open it while Woodburn Capt. Tom Tennant held it, and then it exploded.
Hakim and Tennant were killed. Woodburn Police Chief Scott Russell was critically injured. The bank employee was treated at Salem Hospital and released.
The younger Turnidge appeared in a Salem courtroom for the first time Tuesday morning.
He answered "yes" twice to questions about whether he wanted a lawyer. He did not enter a plea.
Joshua Turnidge was arrested Sunday on charges including aggravated murder.
In the brief hearing, Turnidge stood behind a transparent panel, wearing a green jail garment that exposed the tattoos covering much of his upper arms. He's due back in court Dec. 26.
After the hearing, prosecutor Matt Kemmy said again that authorities won't say what they think was the motive for the bombing.
Meanwhile, we're learning much more about the ties to the High Desert of the Salem man police arrested in the case.
Authorities believe that Turnidge was in Bend last month and bought most of the materials used to make that bomb at our local Wal-Mart.
Turnidge, a Salem wireless company technician, was arrested Sunday at the Salem home he reportedly shares with his girlfriend and her two kids.
The bomb went off Friday night at Woodburn's West Coast Bank, after a bank employee found it in bushes outside. The OSP bomb squad had just moved it inside the building when it blew.
Marion County Sheriff Russ Isham said cell phones and items that might have been used to make the bomb were bought in Bend last month.
The Bend FBI office tells NewsChannel 21 Turnidge went shopping for it all at the Bend Wal-Mart.
Store managers say they're working with police to find more surveillance video like the released pictures of Turnidge while he was here.
Police wouldn't reveal details of the device, but bombers have been known to use cell phone signals to remotely detonate explosives.
NewsChannel 21 also has learned Turnidge has more ties to Central Oregon. Up until 2002, he and his family had lived in Redmond's Skyline Ridge neighborhood for a period of time, at a home on Northwest 20th Street.
Neighbors there were shocked to hear the news, and say most family members moved to the Albany and Salem area.
So far, the motive for the bombing isn't clear. According to his Salem neighbors, Turnidge reportedly was going through a divorce and was in massive debt, but why he allegedly targeted the West Coast Bank, we'll have to wait and see.
Turnidge has been charged with manufacturing a destructive device, assault, attempted aggravated murder and six counts of aggravated murder.
It was announced late Monday that A memorial procession and ceremony for Tennant is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Woodburn Dragstrip, with a procession to the Salem Armory at the state Fairgrounds, where a memorial service is set for 1 p.m.
The memorial service for Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Bill Hakim is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, also at the State Fairgrounds Jackson Armory in Salem. A memorial procession to the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training will follow the service.
Governor Ted Kulongoski on Tuesday ordered all flags at public institutions to be flown at half-staff on Friday in honor of Tennant and Saturday in honor of Hakim.
"Together, these two men served Oregon for more than 30 years, putting their lives on the line daily so our citizens could be safe and secure in their homes and communities," Kulongoski said. "Please join me in keeping the families and friends of Senior Trooper Hakim and Captain Tennant in our thoughts and prayers."
A tip line for information related to the bombing is still in place at 1-888-780-5678.
West Coast Bank has set up a fund for the families, and one can contribute at any branch of the bank in Oregon and Washington.
The families of Oregon State Police Senior Trooper Bill Hakim, Woodburn Captain Tom Tennant and Woodburn Police Chief Scott Russell greatly appreciate the outpouring of prayers and support they are receiving from friends and citizens.
Donations in recognition of these Officers may be made at:
Any West Coast Bank branch in the name of:
Bill Hakim Fund
Tom Tennant Fund
Scott Russell Fund
Donations may also be mailed to:
West Coast Bank MS 143
PO Box 827
Salem, OR 97308
Donations may also go to any Wells Fargo Bank branch in the name of:
Bill Hakim Donation Fund
Tom Tennant Donation Fund
Scott Russell Donation Fund
In lieu of flowers, the family of OSP Trooper Bill Hakim requests donations to:
Shriners Hospital for Children
3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Road
Portland, OR 97239.
