Royal Oak Police Arrest Suspect in ISIS Bomb Hoax

ROYAL OAK MI — Police in Royal Oak say they don’t know what motivated an Oak Park man accused of making two ISIS-inspired bomb threat calls to a local business Tuesday, but he was arraigned on a felony charge that could send him to jail for 20 years.

Benjamin Tesner, 22, was arraigned Friday in 44th District Court on one count of false report or threat of terrorism, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. Judge Jamie Wittenberg set Tesner’s bond at $50,000/10 percent and ordered him to appear in court for a probable cause hearing at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Tesner, who police said is a friend of an employee of Yogurt City, is accused of making two calls seconds apart Tuesday, Royal Oak police said in a news release. He allegedly said that he was affiliated with ISIS and a bomb inside the business at 122 Main St. would detonate within four hours.

Police evacuated Yogurt City and several surrounding businesses, and searched the area with a bomb-sniffing dog from the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office, but found no explosive devices.

Officers quickly responded and evacuated businesses in the immediate area. Officers checked the business and surrounding areas with the assistance of a bomb dog from the Macomb County Sheriff’s Office. No explosive devices were located.

Investigators also searched Tesner’s home in Oak Park, as well as an apartment in Royal Oak where the call originated with the assistance of a bomb dog from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Again, neither explosives nor evidence linking the suspect to ISIS or any other terrorist organization were found.

“As the charges indicate, this is a very serious crime,” Royal Oak Police Chief Corrigan O’Donohue said in the news release. “I am very pleased our investigators were able to quickly identify and arrest this individual bringing this matter to a quick close..”

Tesner has prior convictions for disturbing the peace, minor in possession of alcohol, and a misdemeanor weapons offense.

Photo via Royal Oak Police Department