Dozens Of Drones Descend On Morris County As Authorities Seek Help

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Scores of drones filled the sky across Morris County Tuesday and the unexplained near-nightly appearance of these night flyers continues to spark outrage from residents and pleas for help from officials as their origin and purpose remains a mystery.

Social media lit up like the seasonal Christmas tree Tuesday in Mendham, Chester, Randolph, Roxbury, Morris Township, Rockaway, Dover and beyond as amateur sleuths and documentarians took to the streets to capture their footage and photos and shared them with their neighbors.

In Randolph, where sightings were coming in fast and furious, Mayor Chris Carey said that she has been working with local, county, state and federal authorities and that there was "no known threat to public safety." Carey requested that sightings be reported to the non-emergency number of the police department at 973-989-7000.

Just over the border in Mendham Township, Mayor Sarah Neibart and Chief of Police Ross Johnson echoed those statements and asked that all local sightings be reported to OEMALERT@mendhamtownship.org with the location, timing, and photos or videos of any drone-sighting.

Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon said Monday night that the public can email MCSODMU@co.morris.nj.us or call 973-285-6600.

FBI spokeswoman Amy J. Thoreson told Patch are actively investigate the sightings and noted a focus of their investigation.

"The FBI Newark, NJ State Police and NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness are asking for the public to report any information related to the recent sightings of possible drones flying in several areas along the Raritan River," said Thoreson.

Anyone with relevant information is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit it online at tips.fbi.gov.

Repercussions

Officials had to cancel a medical helicopter's arrival to a Somerset County crash scene last week because drones were hovering near the landing zone, a report said.

The helicopter was en route to an accident near Raritan Valley Community College on Nov. 26 and two security guards closed roads around the crash scene, according to NJ.com. There was a seriously injured patient who needed taken to the hospital, the report said.
However, local fire officials cancelled the request for the helicopter for safety reasons because unidentified drones were flying in the area, the college's supervisor of security told NJ.com.

According to previous Patch reporting, the medical helicopter was able to land at a nearby airport and transport the driver to Morristown Medical Center.

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued two Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base through Dec. 26 and Trump National Golf Club Bedminster through Dec. 6, at the request of federal security partners.
The FBI began their own investigation on Nov. 26, approximately 10 days after the first sightings were reported, but there have been no updates since then.

Drone operators who conduct unsafe operations that endanger other aircraft or people on the ground could face fines up to $75,000. In addition, the FAA can suspend or revoke drone operators’ pilot certificates.