Military choppers startle downtown Miami
On the web: Helicopters over Brickell
Source: YouTube: SSotolon
Source: YouTube: SSotolon
BY LIDIA DINKOVA
LDINKOVA@MIAMIHERALD.COM
If this was a movie, it could be called Sleepless in Brickell.
Residents in the neighborhood saw and heard several military-style, “pitch-black” helicopters flying around and hovering on top of Brickell buildings Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
Turns out that it was a training exercise by the Southeast Regional Domestic Security Task Force. In other words, a Homeland Security operation, that few other authorities apparently knew about, including the U.S. Coast Guard.
Lt. Russ Tippett, spokesman for the coast guard happens to live in Brickell, and said the choppers didn’t make it easy to sleep, as the drill went on for hours.
“It was extremely loud and annoying,’’ Tippett said, theorizing at first that it may have been a U.S. Customs Operation.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue didn’t know about it, referring media calls to the City of Miami’s Fire Rescue. A spokesman there assumed it was a film shoot.
Sgt. Bill Williams, who oversaw the operation for the Miami-Dade Police Department, was not immediately available for details.
“I couldn’t see them a lot of the time, but I could hear them because there are echoes around the buildings,” said Neilson Paty, who lives in Brickell Bay. “We see helicopters every day, but it was very obvious that these are not tourist or U.S. Coast Guard helicopters.”
A Miami police spokesman said the helicopters were conducting an “operational” training drill. He was not allowed to comment on details of the drill.
Paty said he is understanding of the city having its reasons to not inform residents about the drill and that he is not upset for not getting any alerts of the commotion.
“It was loud enough to wake up some people, but it wasn’t overwhelming enough to disturb the peace or something like that,” he said.
On Tuesday, Miami police officers in Brickell said that it was all part of a planned Homeland Security exercise, but confusion about the helicopters was rampant about 6 a.m. Wednesday.
It all began about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, when at least three large Black Hawk-like choppers landed in a parking lot of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts on Biscayne Boulevard and 14th Street.
The choppers then charged over the Brickell and Miami river area. Men who appeared to be SWAT team members were also seen taking part in the exercise.
Witnesses were tweeting as the event unfolded.
"Three choppers just dropped a group of men on top of the Bank of America building in Brickell," tweeted a man identified as Ianik Drouin, about 9:45 p.m.
"I just saw one of the brickell choppers turn so quickly, it had to go sideways," tweeted Sarah Elles about midnight.
Diana Pedroni also had trouble sleeping.
"Oh not again! #brickellchoppers flying on top of my building," tweeted Pedroni about midnight.
About 1 a.m., Eddie Prieto was surprised to find out he may have to endure more of it for the rest of the month.
"Five more niths? Boo! RT @Brickellinfo #DoD will be conducting drills through April 25th," tweeted Prieto about 1 a.m.
Miami Herald Staff Laura Figueroa, Andrea Torres and Julie Brown contributed to this report.
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/19/2176185/military-style-helicopters-over.html#ixzz1K8MQo94S
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"We HEART the TROOPS " Memorial Day Celebration & Benefit
You are requested for your support and attendance to "We HEART the TROOPS" Memorial Day Celebration & Benefit, a night of entertainment and tribute to the thousands of service members who have served and been injured while serving overseas, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This event will be held at one of the few resorts in the Nation that offer discount rates for Veterans, The Newport Beachside Resort inside The Tiffany Ballroom, 16701 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33160, Friday, May 13, 2011 starting at 8pm.
Benefiting from this event, Cell Phones for Soldiers, an organization with a simple mission, helping our troops call home.
With your support and donation of used cellphones and new calling cards, our troops stationed overseas can call home. Your donation will increase amount of talk time for the families of our troops.
Freedom Is Not Free, an organization dedicated to assisting wounded service members and their families, and the families of the fallen.
Since the organization was founded in 2005, they have given more than $800,000 in grants to nearly 250 individuals and families. Freedom Is Not Free will use your donations to meet our heroes immediate financials needs, including the expenses associated with medical care, travel, home modification, and paying bills.
Operation Hug-A-Hero, non profit organization that create doll designed with a head-to-toe of the child’s parent, free of charge.
A small donation is enough to put a huggable doll in one child’s arm.
Tribute LIVE PERFORMANCE by: Florida Panther’s Ice Dancer’s
Special invited guest speaker, enlisted in 1989 and served in the Operation Desert Storm 1990-1991, 1SG Carl Miller. A Sergeant Audie Murphy Award recipient, Miller was also 1SG of the Year 2nd Recruiting Brigade Fiscal year 2010. Alongside, his wife, Captain Brandi Nichole Miller, whom apart of the Army Nurse Corps have supported missions in Germany and Trinidad, will also be sharing her experiences as a nurse on base. She is currently a Platoon Leader of Medical Section 7217th Medical Support Unit.
For your pleasure, Miami's own Dance Culture will showcase unique artistic dancing from cultures around the world. You'll enjoy routines like Bollywood, Bellydance, Samba, Breakdance, and Hip-Hop combined in one performance. An amazing visualization of the diversity in Miami's dance scene will have you wanting to sign up for classes at their studio location.
Complimentary hor'derves and drink specials all evening
Special complimentary entry for those with any form of military I.D. Also, for those who have served for our country, information on local military jobs will be available.
*Army registration on location
A GIFT TO ALL GUESTS!
Freedom Is Not Free is excited to present the 2011 America's Heroes Calendar, featuring current and former members of our nation's armed forces.
SILENT AUCTION INSIDE! (part of the proceeds going to Freedom Is Not Free)
tickets: www.weheartthetroops.eventbrite.com
For more information and media inquires:
Fabienne Claude
Event Coordinator
info@fabconline.net
786- 340- 2671
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