Miraclo Miles

- August 25, 2008

Ninjiots?

Well, it seems their hearts may have been in the right place, and it isn't as if they're the first ones to seriously consider doing something like this.

Two young men arrested for putting on ninja costumes and taking weapons out to try to put a scare into drug dealers -- and leave a harassing note for an ex-girlfriend? Ah, New Jersey. An earlier report (transcript of the video piece) is more detailed and presents matters with greater sympathy.

Articles reprinted below in case original links are removed.

N.J. Cops Collar 'Shinobi Warrior' Drug Vigilantes
Pair Of Ninjas Armed With Throwing Knives, Chinese Stars, Swords, Arrows & Nunchucks
Personal Vendetta Against Drug Dealers, Users
Reporting
Scott Rapoport
CLIFTON, N.J. (CBS) ― Superheroes? Or vigilantes?

Police in New Jersey busted a couple of ninja warriors on Thursday. The two young men are now facing serious charges.

Jesse Trojaniak of Clifton has had a fascination with ninjas.

"For a very long time now," the 19-year-old said.

He has the swords ... the kendo stick.

"The knives and stuff ... and the nunchuks," he added.

But early Wednesday morning his ninja activities got him busted by cops, along with his friend Tadeusz Tertkiewicz, 20.

Police said they found the two in a car on Rt. 46 dressed in black ninja garb and SWAT-type vests, armed with an assortment of knives, swords, nunchuks ... and a cross bow.

"They were armed to the teeth," Clifton Police Det. Capt. Robert Rowan said.

Police said they were on their way to deliver warning letters to drug dealers and drug users urging them to stop their "impure" activities.

The letters said those who persisted would be stopped with "justified yet, merciful force."

See, Jesse says he and Tadeusz are modern day ninjas ... "Shinobi warriors" to be exact.

And that they were on a mission to get dealers to stop selling after a friend of theirs recently got caught up in drug use.

"To tell drug dealers and users to maybe back off the drugs," Jesse said. "It screws up people's lives."

He said they planned on dropping off five letters to drug dealers in the area, saying "You have committed passing on your impurity upon innocent brothers and sisters."

And that the ninja outfits were just to scare them. As for the weapons …

"Those weapons ... they were just for show. They were just there to make us look as ninja as possible," Jesse said.

"I don't doubt that that that was their intention," Rowan said.

Now, both men are facing possession of weapons charges that could mean 18 months in jail -- and perhaps a lesson learned.

"I don't think I'll ever do anything like that again," Jesse said.

Police in Clifton said the two men don't have previous records and that, "They're not bad kids. They just made a mistake."

Aug 22, 2008 4:00 pm US/Eastern
Ninja Vigilantes Busted In N.J.
CLIFTON, N.J. (AP) ― Clifton police say they arrested two men dressed liked ninjas and armed with Asian martial arts weapons who said they were sending a warning to drug users.

Calling themselves "Shinobi warriors," the men wore black SWAT-type vests and carried knives, throwing stars, swords, nunchucks and a bow and arrows.

After being arrested early Wednesday in a car on Route 46, the men said they were delivering warning letters to drug dealers and drug users urging them to stop their "impure" activities.

The letters said those who persisted would be stopped with "justified yet, merciful force."

Twenty-year-old Tadeusz Tertkiewicz and 19-year-old Jesse Trojaniak are charged with weapons possession. Tertkiewicz is also charged with harassment for a letter left for an ex-girlfriend.

Trojaniak's father tells The Associated Press his son is "not a maniac" and was only trying to help a friend.

Information from: The Record of Bergen County,
http://www.northjersey.com