Episode #16: “They Do Sorta Look Like Mutant Turtles”, from True’s 21 September 2008 issue.
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They Do Sorta Look Like Mutant Turtles
Police officers in Clifton, N.J., were suspicious of two men dressed in black parked in a car at 2:30 a.m. The men explained they were “modern-day Ninjas” — “Shinobi Warriors” who were merely delivering letters to local drug dealers to demand they stop their “impure” activities. If not, the “Shinobi will stop your cruel and sadistic intentions with justified, yet merciful force.” The letters indicated that the “wind guides us to those of impure heart and intent,” which includes drug dealers for having “committed [the] sin of passing impurity.” Officers say Jesse Trojaniak, 19, and Tadieusz Tertkiewicz, 20, were carrying sheathed knives, Ninja throwing knives, Chinese throwing stars, four-pointed tacks, swords, bows and arrows, and nunchucks. Not surprisingly, police arrested both men on weapons charges. Tertkiewicz was also charged with harassment — for allegedly already delivering one of the letters to his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend. (Clifton Journal) …Wait: a Ninja geek had a girlfriend? That really is news!
Note regarding “four-pointed tacks”: I Googled for info when we were making the video, and came up empty. Several readers have theorized that they’re referring to caltrops, but there is still no way to confirm that’s what the cops meant. It is the most likely, though.
Visit Ask a Ninja.
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