COURTESY PHOTO | One of several armored personnel carriers spotted across the North Fork today.
UPDATE (6:30 p.m.): A representative from Congressman Tim Bishop’s office said the lack of communication about a series of U.S. Army Reserves armored vehicles that inexplicably rode around the North Fork Friday was “unacceptable.”
“Somebody should know what’s going on here,” said legislative aide Oliver Longwell, who was unable to get an answer from military officials about what the vehicles were doing. “Those are military vehicles riding around on public highways and there’s a guy in the turret.
“We’re definitely going to get to the bottom of this.”
Meanwhile, Channel 12 News Long Island is claiming to have “solved the mystery” of the military trucks, reporting the trucks were in the area for a military funeral and attributing the information to the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs. Channel 12 did not report on whom the services were for.
Neither the News-Review nor Mr. Bishop’s office could confirm Channel 12′s information.
ORIGINAL POST (3:30 p.m.): Multiple M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicles later confirmed to be with the U.S. Reserves were spotted driving through Riverhead and Southold towns Friday morning, according to several eyewitnesses. Between six to seven vehicles were spotted around 9:40 a.m. traveling east on North Road in Mattituck. The ASVs were also spotted around 12:30 p.m. in Calverton, traveling westbound.
Southold Supervisor Scott Russell said he saw four or five armored vehicles pass him on Main Road in Southold on his way to work this morning. Southold Town police have been trying to identify where the vehicles came from, he said.
Riverhead Police officials also said they didn’t know why the vehicles were in town.
“They’re just sort of zipping around,” Mr. Russell said. “Nobody knows what they’re doing. It’s just another day in Southold.”
Officials at the U.S. Reserves could not be reached to explain the military vehicles’ presence. The Riverhead Police Department said they were also unaware of any military activity.
The military is required to notify police departments that they will be using public roads for training exercises or other functions, but no town officials were notified there would be activity on Friday.
Early reports from eyewitnesses also describe a submarine spotted off Orient Point, but Coast Guard officials at the New London station in Connecticut said a U.S. submarine sailed through the area this morning on a routine trip to be resupplied. The submarine docked at the Naval Base in New London at around 9:30 a.m. and left the base at approximately 10:30 a.m.
“It’s a frequent thing for them to come in for supplies,” said Coast Guard Petty Officer Jeff Murphy. “That’s a very normal occurrence to have happen.”
Did you see one of the armored personnel carriers? If so, tell us where you saw them in the comment section below.
With Tim Kelly and Jennifer Gustavson