LAPD officers went to Robotoki, a game studio in Sherman Oaks, after a panic alarm sounded—not because a confirmed report of a gunman had been established. Studio founder Robert Bowling said a designer accidentally pressed the newly installed alarm while leaving. Inside, officers saw a life-sized display of Call of Duty character Simon “Ghost” Riley and checked the building.
Why did LAPD go to Robotoki?
A June 1, 2013 report by MajorGeeks said officers responded to a panic alarm at Robotoki, a game studio on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. The report attributed the account to studio founder Robert Bowling: the alarm had been installed the day before, and a designer pressed it while leaving.
Bowling described the alarm as being for an armed threat. In the report, he said: “Our studio is equipped with a ‘panic’ alarm in case of an armed threat, which was installed yesterday.” The accessible account is secondary reporting that quotes Bowling; it is not an LAPD incident record.
What did officers see inside?
According to Bowling’s account in the same report, officers saw a life-sized Ghost display at a window and entered the building. Bowling said officers detained him while they checked the studio, then cleared the rooms. He recalled: “As soon as they hit the top of the stairs, you have a direct line of sight to where ‘Ghost’ is standing at the window. You see them pause for a second looking at ‘Ghost.’ And then they go in, check it out, spend a little time in there, and clear the rest of the building.”
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- Officially licensed Call of Duty Ghost figure: Heavy-duty PVC construction with sturdy black base holds gaming controllers, mobile phones, remotes, and more without tipping over during intense gaming sessions
Was the Robotoki incident swatting?
The MajorGeeks report noted that earlier coverage had speculated Robotoki was targeted by “swatting”—a false emergency report intended to prompt a police response. But Bowling’s explanation was that a designer triggered the studio’s alarm while leaving. The available account does not establish swatting as the cause, and no primary LAPD record is cited to independently verify the sequence.
Who is Call of Duty’s Ghost?
Ghost is Simon “Ghost” Riley, a character in the Call of Duty franchise. The franchise’s official 2022 article identifies Ghost among the characters of Modern Warfare II and announced that game’s October 28, 2022 release. That later installment is separate from the 2013 Robotoki incident: the contemporary report describes a Call of Duty Ghost display but does not connect it to the 2022 game.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
- CALL OF DUTY: Salute the “one-four-one” with the Call of Duty "Ghost" Bust Statue
- BUST STATUE: 8-inch bust depicts the iconic balaclava mask of Lieutenant Simon “Ghost” Riley
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Rank #3
- YOUTOOZ GHOST VINYL FIGURE – Official Youtooz collectible featuring Ghost from Call of Duty Modern Warfare II in a stylized design.
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- DISPLAY-READY SIZE – Stands approximately 4.6 inches tall, ideal for desks, shelves, and gaming setups.
- COLLECTOR-GRADE PACKAGING – Ships in a custom windowed display box with protective outer sleeve for safe storage and display.
Rank #2
- MCFARLANE ELITE EDITION action figure features an incredibly detailed sculpt with soft goods and premium paint applications
- 7in scale deluxe GHOST action figure is based on CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 4 video game
- Designed with Ultra Articulation with up to 22 moving parts for full range of posing and play
- Includes a redemption code that can be redeemed for an in-game weapon charm. *Game required. Sold Separately.
- Includes 4 alternate hands, 3 weapons, 2 knives, soft goods cape, art card and base
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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