Man Arrested for YouTube Baby Food Threat
Techtree News Staff, Aug 02, 2008 1236 hrs IST
A man who claimed in YouTube videos that he had poisoned baby food and infected women with AIDS virus was arrested in the U.S.
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Caroline McCarthy over at CNet blogs about a bizzare overlap of web and real-life. A New York man named Anton Dunn has been posting offensive videos in which he claims to have killed two people and infected more than 1,500 women with the AIDS virus. Going by the name of Trashman on YouTube, his videos were picked up by the NY tabloid press and have drawn varied responses from viewers: some find them funny, while others were offended.
Anton Dunn is currently under arrest after he posted a series of videos detailing plans to poison Gerber products -- a range of baby food. In one video -- Dunn, filming himself from inside a shower stall, claims that his "plan is in motion" and that four babies had already died. The U.S. Attorney's Office has filed charges against him which could result in up to 10 years in prison or heavy fines.
"Critics will likely say it's a case of authorities overreacting to a case of over-the-top, look-at-me comedy. But the Trashman videos, in which Dunn wears masks to disguise his identity and rants in a humorless tone, don't look like they were made to make people laugh", Caroline says through her blog entry.
The post has elicited some interesting commentary from CNet readers. As is usual on the Internet, the comments take up both extremes -- with some such as umbrae attacking the U.S. government for taking such an extreme step: "We are in trouble if the government is going to randomly jump on every idiot on the Internet", adding tongue-in-cheek that "Maybe we haven't caught Bin Laden because he doesn't use YouTube." Yet others like shayfur, would like the government to lock Anton up and "throw away the key", while still others feel that YouTube itself should be shut down since "99% of the vids on there are garbage and not created by the user in the 1st place".
USER COMMENTS
obviously a sick man I think to threaten babies
by lauren, durham, on Aug 05, 2008 02:35 AM, Report abuse Reply
by leonit, pristina, on Aug 04, 2008 09:42 PM, Report abuse Reply
by saad, karachi, on Aug 02, 2008 03:29 PM, Report abuse Reply
"The U.S. Attorney's Office has filed charges against him which could result in up to 10 years in prison or heavy fines." What charges? There is no mention of what crime the goverment claims he violated, why is that.
by Thomas, Reno, on Aug 03, 2008 08:38 AM, Report abuse
The charges are essentially making threats of murder and making false claims of tampering with a consumer product. None of them are at all based on whether he actually fufillled his claims but the claims themselves. Freedom of speech doesn't and has never protected making serious claims of commiting or the intention to commit serious crimes. If it worked how some commenters would like, Youtube would be an excellent method for a terrorist to give orders, because apparently we shouldn't be able to act on threats made over the internet, or punish people attempting to instill panic in the populace (some parents did contact Gerber with fears of the product's safety).
by Boredatwork, Clements, on Aug 04, 2008 05:54 PM, Report abuse
He got arrested for posting video comment on the internet? What will come of next? Getting arrested just cause someone doesn't like your comments? Isn't that the same as a communist regime? What happened to "free speech" we are all proud of?
by Andrew, San Jose, on Aug 04, 2008 12:18 AM, Report abuse Reply
To my understanding, confessions can get a person convicted. If he is confessing, I see no freedom of speech violation.
by SWAdvocate, Walnut Creek, on Aug 04, 2008 03:23 AM, Report abuse
There is a big difference between free speech making a comment or statement and making a terroristic threat. (I wish you were,or why don't you just drop is a comment or statement.) To say I have, and will again, is making a terroristic threat.
by Patricia, Greensboro, on Aug 04, 2008 12:52 PM, Report abuse
Well, with all the things that have been happening, I'm glad they are taking it seriously. It takes a sick person, to think killing babies is funny.
by Patricia, Greensboro, on Aug 04, 2008 12:23 PM, Report abuse Reply
by BOB LEE, JASPER, on Aug 04, 2008 10:23 AM, Report abuse Reply
by Tyler., Your Mom!, on Aug 04, 2008 08:36 AM, Report abuse Reply
why would you want to harm any child or baby let me ask you a question do you have kids and if you do did you think about them wat if they ate the food how would that make you feel
by Natosha, springfield, on Aug 04, 2008 08:12 AM, Report abuse Reply
You have to write a better article i'm sorry. Youtube is for Education, alternative news, alternative music, alternative video's. This guy so happens to be an exclusion. I don't justify shutting down youtube in order to watch copyrighted stuff on tv. Nor do i want to listen to copyrighted music anywhere. Shuttding down youtube is shutting down my right to listen to none mainstream media. I dislike your article although it has valid points on the bad guys. With that rationality lets shutdown "TV" it has crime on it. Lets shut down Radio cause it carries violence information. This is reporting and in favor of the big media groups I think. A disguise under pretending to justify shutting down an alternative place to hang out. Actually if it weren't for youtube this guy never would been known or caught. He bragged what he did on youtube. Shame on the whole news outlet terrible!
by mts, Tyranny, Free, on Aug 04, 2008 06:58 AM, Report abuse Reply
He should be executed for threatening babies He can serve as the "example" for the next wannabe terrorist & You tube just provides a service they are fine
by Brutis, Iowa, on Aug 04, 2008 12:03 AM, Report abuse Reply
Perhaps I should execute you to make an example of those who would attack our freedoms. Liberty or Death.
by Anon Patriot, Everywhere, on Aug 04, 2008 06:23 AM, Report abuse
They're words. Why lock up someone for 10 years just because he's an idiot? Just get to the bottom of whether or not he intended to commit these acts, and if there's any evidence he was planning to do so. If he's just using sick humor, he doesn't belong in prison. Give him a fine, and/or community service. Let the punishment fit the crime. Locking people up for words? Are some of you really American citizens like me? I can't believe this. You belong in a dictatorship, or better yet, the middle ages where public executions were attended with much enthusiasm. Get some perspective. Grow a brain.
by Ken, Buffalo, NY, on Aug 03, 2008 02:10 AM, Report abuse Reply
i agree with ken. he's absolutely right. being an idiot is not crime enough for a person to be put behind a jail. yeah but a fine and some community service will teach this person a lesson to draw limits to any future idio-cracy he plans to share with the world. my two cents.
by Aaishah, Islamabad, Pakistan, on Aug 03, 2008 05:10 AM, Report abuse
I Agree , why put a guy in jail for being funny !! Not Fair , at all , this is just showing you how much the Gov wants to be involved in the internet to show people " See There is now where you can hide" Tommorow we will Find out that TrashMan Was Related to BinLaddin or some thing
by toto, u.s.a, on Aug 03, 2008 09:44 AM, Report abuse
So should someone who yells FIRE in a crowded theater be set free too?
by John, Doe, on Aug 04, 2008 04:13 AM, Report abuse
You Tube is a clearing house for nutjobs apparently
by John, Doe, on Aug 04, 2008 04:11 AM, Report abuse Reply
Haha when I first saw the video of him bragging about infecting women with AIDS, I kind of knew he would do something more extreme to get himself arrested. And it happened. I think he is wrong and extremely retarted, and if you think about it, it only makes sense he would get arrested because what if by any chance he actually planned to poison Gerber products? The government won't take any chances, duh. But if they find that he actually is a retarted fuck, then there is no need to lock him up at all, maybe just ban him from posting anymore videos on the internet.
by Vickki, Hampton, on Aug 04, 2008 03:56 AM, Report abuse Reply
This man also made a video claiming that he killed some one and knowingly infected people with aids. Look up AIDS MAN on youtube. He is a sick person and I hope they lock him up and throw away the key
by Brittany, Dallas, on Aug 04, 2008 02:37 AM, Report abuse Reply
by larissa, rockymount, on Aug 04, 2008 01:05 AM, Report abuse Reply
well it wasn't right, and just like the real world... if he's just BS'ing, smack him in the head and leave it alone, but if he's confessing to crimes that fit realworld events, and unsloved cases try him and see what happens.
by john doe, whoville, on Aug 04, 2008 12:30 AM, Report abuse Reply
i don,t think that was right at all
by joshualavine, coconutcreek, on Aug 04, 2008 12:21 AM, Report abuse Reply
Just words huh? What happens when he makes good on his threats, then what?
by My two cents, cleveland, on Aug 03, 2008 10:44 PM, Report abuse Reply
Petty paranoia huh? Proofs before claims buddy. Thats how it is done in Democracy. Or did you forget?
by Andrew, San Jose, on Aug 04, 2008 12:21 AM, Report abuse
You know all these comments are proof positive that hydrogen is not the building blocks of the universe. Stupidity is, and all in the name of Terrorism. Can you prove someone was murdered without a body? No you can't, but label any one or anything a terrorist and the government can do as they please. You're the same moronic crowd that want's to lynch people for dropping an ipod into a toilet on an airplane.
by Frank Zappa, Los Angeles, on Aug 03, 2008 10:25 PM, Report abuse Reply
by SHEIKHS, RWP, on Aug 03, 2008 10:43 PM, Report abuse
get off the crack man. uneducated low life bastard, let the kkk take care of him
by glen, swift current, on Aug 03, 2008 10:01 PM, Report abuse Reply
I saw this dude on youtube...........I was suprised that he actually made a video about it.If he went to court the judge would have proof that he is guilty because of that video.And in the video he admitted that he poisoned the baby food. If you would like to see it search: trashman poisoning baby food
by lauren, Not telling you, on Aug 03, 2008 07:07 AM, Report abuse Reply
Regardless what he said you need proof of a crime. Not one parent or doctor in the entire state of newyork or jersey has reported a single baby dying after eating gerber baby food with any of the mentioned poisons in them. DETAIN him in a local police cell and search his house. Check his credit card and internet purchases, the poisons hes talking about using arent sold at local drug stores so you can track down if he actually bought any. They can do eco scans of his house and clothes to see if the residue they leave are on any of his belongings, but arresting him on his words alone is a violation of our freedom of speech. Next youll say arrest anybody that threatens to beat someone up as an actuall assault charge. lets see how you feel when your son or daughter goes to jail at 18 for telling a school bully, "Touch me and ill break your hands"
by Doittherightway, ny, on Aug 03, 2008 08:33 PM, Report abuse
this is a badly written article, the author leaves out that Antin Dunn has been making these videos since may and that poisons used were cyinide and rat poison, think about it, a mother and father have been feeding their baby gerber food for the last couple mounths and they see these videos. what would you think "my god is my baby going to die?", now multiply that baby the thousand that saw the video and thousands more that talked about it. this terrorism is well worth ten years in prison. the free speech that blogger Ken refers to does that include terrorism, nope, you can't say "kill the president" without secret service breathen down your neck can you
by ready, N/A, on Aug 03, 2008 04:20 PM, Report abuse Reply
Well This Is Just Plain Stupid You Lot Are Just Low Life Posting Up These Articales
by Patheic, brum, on Aug 02, 2008 03:43 PM, Report abuse Reply
What sort of logic is this? The people who posted this article are lowlifes? Why is that? Because you are not interested? Well, think about it. Just because YOU are not interested in something doesn't mean OTHERS are not. In fact, things you probably are interested in are things I would not be caught dead reading. Think about it.
by None, none, on Aug 03, 2008 12:40 PM, Report abuse
hey everyone i am thrashman hope u like my videos
by thrashman, india, on Aug 02, 2008 10:28 PM, Report abuse Reply
Oh, you poor little man. Does someone need a little attention? I feel sorry for people like this. No friends, complete loners, always trying to drum up ways to say "look at me".
by Anonymous, NA, on Aug 03, 2008 11:52 AM, Report abuse
i am joking im not thrashman i dont even no who he is
by thrashman, india, on Aug 02, 2008 10:29 PM, Report abuse Reply
Well your From India , so you are Trashman by nature
by MSKR, Dubai, on Aug 03, 2008 09:00 AM, Report abuse
Unless there is some DIRECT evidence that this man actually has commited a crime I would view it the same way I do violent movies. I doubt Known Movie directors get arrested for there work.
by Gary Graefen, Lakewood wa, on Aug 03, 2008 01:24 AM, Report abuse Reply
gary does have a good point but at the same time.. in movies "the motive" of the movie being created for the purpose of ?entertainment only? is made "evident". in this case it wasn't clear to the viewer if the intention behind the creation of these videos was just below-lame humor or to invoke fear or (the worst) to confess his ill deeds. in my opinion, if this guy didn?t actually commit a crime physically, he should still get some fine or community service to teach him and others like him a lesson. the thing is that the world on its own has become quite a hard place for everyone to feel ?secure? in, the last thing we need is to give more reasons to the general public to be scared of getting out of their homes. in black and white, i feel that we should 'favor the acts' of people 'that favor mankind' and vice versa.
by Aaishah, Islamabad, Pakistan, on Aug 03, 2008 05:52 AM, Report abuse
I Want To Know If What He Says Is True About Killing People And Poisoning Children.
by Alec, Grand Forks, on Aug 03, 2008 04:36 AM, Report abuse Reply
this is what you call 'SCUM OF THE EARTH WHICH NEEDS TO BE WIPED OUT'
by Joe, London, on Aug 03, 2008 01:53 AM, Report abuse Reply
i think if found guilty ,yes he should get locked up but shutting down you tube its not fear. i like the website it's infor at times are helpfull for example there are vid for person with health issues , entertainment, music, look at even at how much persons get tips on being over weight like myself. come on be realistic look at how many persons are logged into this website , i mean if not for the website u all wouldn't have a clue about Anton Dunn and his sickness of hurting people, lets be real won't you.
by lauren, arima, on Aug 03, 2008 12:51 AM, Report abuse Reply
by KIMBERLEY, UK, on Aug 02, 2008 10:28 PM, Report abuse Reply
by prasanna, salem, on Aug 02, 2008 04:39 PM, Report abuse Reply
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I think that anton dunn belong in prison. The kind of remarks he made about people unbelievable. This man is clearly unstable and crazy. I think he should remain in prison for the rest of his life. What if he was telling the truth? Thank God, it was lies. That video was very scary, I hope people think twice before having unprotected sex. Let this be a lesson learn.
by angel, miami, on Aug 25, 2009 12:43 PM, Report abuse Reply