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Lawyer: Bomb Scare Suspects Were Making Contest Entry

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By JENNIFER LEIGH | News Channel 8

Published: March 10, 2009

LAKELAND - Monday's bomb scare at a Lakeland parking garage was the result of three young men who were trying to win an online contest, the attorney for one of the men said.

On Monday, Lakeland police summoned a bomb squad from Tampa and the state fire marshal's office to the garage at Main Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Investigators used a bomb squad robot to detonate one explosive device and neutralize what they suspected was a second device.

By the end of the day, three men ranging in age from 19 to 24 had turned themselves in and were arrested.

Bill Sites, the attorney for one of the men arrested, Daniel Terry, said his client and two others were filming a commercial for an online contest organized by Mountain Dew and the TV action show "24.''
"It's save the world in 24 seconds. They were simply just down there filming this, and they chose that location because of its setting and the film value,'' Sites said.

Authorities have not released details of what the explosive devices were, but Sites said they were simple and nonlethal.

"In this particular case, they took some Mountain Dew bottles and some firecrackers that had been bought in another county, and they put them all together somewhat resembling a destructive device, put some fake wiring on it, a broken cell phone, taped it all together, filmed it, discharged it, made a fairly loud noise,'' Sites said.

Sites said the men didn't know they were breaking any laws and are willing to pay for the expenses incurred by law enforcement.

Tony Dodds, the lawyer for Nathan Slaymaker, another of those charged, said the three men didn't know how seriously their actions would be taken by law enforcement.

"We're talking about a simple setup over a weekend that involves Mountain Dew and some firecrackers on this,'' Dodds said. "It's nothing very elaborate. It may have given the appearance of something elaborate, but it was nothing elaborate. And these kids are in serious regret over the entire situation at this point.''

John McGrath, an investigator with the Lakeland Fire Department, said the main explosive device was made of a pair of two-liter bottles and fireworks with a liquid in the bottles.

"Making a destructive device is against the law; it doesn't matter what it's constructed of,'' McGrath said. "Other things that come to mind are acid bombs, dry ice bombs and even fireworks in general. Unless they're permitted, you're not supposed to have them.''

McGrath said the cost of dealing with the device hasn't yet been calculated but noted members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the state fire marshal's office, the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Lakeland police and Lake Fire Department responded.

"We have to treat every incident as if it's serious,'' McGrath said.

Terry, 23, Slaymaker, 19, and Matthew Emmons, 24, all turned themselves in to authorities Monday night. They each face one count of being charged with making, possessing, throwing, projecting, placing, discharging any destructive device or attempt to do so, a second-degree felony.

According to the contest rules, videos submitted for the contest can't be longer than 24 seconds and will be judged on"originality, best execution of "Mountain Dew 24 Seconds to Save the World" theme, and creativity.''

The winning video would have a chance to air during this year's season finale of "24.'' The winner also will get $2,400, a trip for two to Los Angeles for next year's premiere of "24,'' and one night at a hotel.

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