Defense in bombing trial asks why police weren't investigated

SALEM, Ore. - Defense attorneys in the Woodburn bank bombing trial wanted to know Wednesday why the state organization that investigates workplace accidents and deaths didn't pursue an investigation into Woodburn police following the event in December 2008 that killed two law enforcement officers.

Defense attorneys for Josh and Bruce Turnidge have made it clear they are trying to show the bomb exploded because of recklessness on the part of law enforcement officers. By putting OSHA investigators on the stand and asking them why they didn’t pursue an investigation into Woodburn police procedures the defense raised the question that the city may have been trying to protect its own.

OSHA administrator, Michael Wood, testified that he was contacted through the governor’s office and was told the city of Woodburn had concerns about an investigation into Woodburn police. It was after that OSHA decided not to investigate the bombing.

Woodburn’s city administrator, Scott Derickson, testified why they felt an OSHA investigation was a bad idea.

“My overall concern was that any OSHA inquiry, one, would send an incorrect message to the community and to the organization that this was an accident as opposed to an intentional bombing, which I believed that it was,” he said.

Woodburn police captain, Tom Tennant, and Oregon State Police bomb technician, Bill Hakim, were killed when the bomb detonated inside Woodburn's West Coast Bank. Woodburn's police chief, Scott Russell, lost a leg in the blast.

OSHA determined that Hakim was in control of the bomb scene which was another reason why it felt an investigation into Woodburn police was not necessary.

Also on Wednesday, Bruce Turnidge’s brother, Pat, testified that Bruce “was out of breath and sounded concerned,” during a phone call two days after the bombing. Pat Turnidge told the court his brother was on a walk at his Jefferson farm when Bruce called him.

Pat Turnidge was called to the stand by Josh Turnidges’s defense team.

Josh’s attorneys allege that Bruce acted alone in building and planting the bomb.

Pat Turnidge said his brother told him that “nobody was supposed to get hurt” and “it was senseless.” During the phone call, Pat said after Bruce learned of his son’s arrest, he said, “We are in trouble.”

But Pat said his brother has never said he or his son were behind the bombing.

Prosecutors made it clear they were upset with Pat for initially withholding details of the phone conversation he had with Bruce from investigators. Pat Turnidge said he doesn’t know why he didn’t mention the details earlier.

Josh Turnidge is expected to take the stand in his own defense along with his mother and Bruce’s wife. But the court has not told the media when it can expect them.