Northern Lights
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[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=+1]Mismarked helicopter puts officials on alert[/size][/font]
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]CAMANCHE - There were some tense moments overhead Wednesday morning as officials tried to unravel why a helicopter with Coast Guard markings - that didn't belong to the Coast Guard - was hovering over the Mississippi River at Camanche as rescuers were searching for a man presumed drowned. Officials learned of the helicopter's presence about 9 a.m. Wednesday just as deputies were going out on the river with a cadaver dog to search for 26-year-old Sean Nelson. Authorities have been searching for the Moline, Ill., man since he disappeared in the river after trying to retrieve a boat near Camanche on Saturday night.
Deputies noticed the helicopter hovering over the river and realized it was disturbing the wind, which would have a negative effect on the dog's ability to pick up Nelson's scent.
Clinton County Sheriff Rick Lincoln said deputies tried to wave the helicopter off without success. Because the helicopter had "United States Coast Guard" on it, the sheriff had his office contact the U.S. Coast Guard office in Rock Island, Ill., so the pilot could be told to leave the area.
But the Coast Guard's officers replied they did not have a helicopter in the area. Lincoln said the pilot, Martin "Marty" Diercks Jr., 43, of Bettendorf, landed the helicopter just a few minutes later at the Clinton Municipal Airport.
Turns out Diercks was flying overhead to help in the search for the man - something he chose to do on his own. Diercks told investigators he flew up Tuesday and spoke with Camanche police that afternoon about returning Wednesday, before the silt in the river got stirred up, so he could see into the water. He was unaware the sheriff's department would be out there with a cadaver dog and was apologetic about the situation.
But Lincoln said the issue was that deputies with the sheriff's department thought the pilot was with the Coast Guard. Diercks said he always has seen other private aircraft painted to resemble U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force markings; he told Lincoln he "liked the Coast Guard" and decorated the helicopter with decals and paint to match.
Lincoln asked him if he had the Coast Guard's permission to use its name and decals, and he said "no." Lincoln explained to Diercks that, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, national security might have had him shot down, because he was within 10 miles of the Quad Cities Nuclear Generating Station in Cordova, Ill.
Lincoln said the issue is between Diercks, the Coast Guard and possibly the Federal Aviation Administration, which controls airways across the country. Diercks "had the best of intentions," according to the sheriff, and no local charges will be filed.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Gregory Collins in Rock Island told the Clinton Herald that a report on the incident has been forwarded to the regional office in St. Louis and the office was waiting for further directions before taking any action.
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©Clinton Herald 2004
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]CAMANCHE - There were some tense moments overhead Wednesday morning as officials tried to unravel why a helicopter with Coast Guard markings - that didn't belong to the Coast Guard - was hovering over the Mississippi River at Camanche as rescuers were searching for a man presumed drowned. Officials learned of the helicopter's presence about 9 a.m. Wednesday just as deputies were going out on the river with a cadaver dog to search for 26-year-old Sean Nelson. Authorities have been searching for the Moline, Ill., man since he disappeared in the river after trying to retrieve a boat near Camanche on Saturday night.
Deputies noticed the helicopter hovering over the river and realized it was disturbing the wind, which would have a negative effect on the dog's ability to pick up Nelson's scent.
Clinton County Sheriff Rick Lincoln said deputies tried to wave the helicopter off without success. Because the helicopter had "United States Coast Guard" on it, the sheriff had his office contact the U.S. Coast Guard office in Rock Island, Ill., so the pilot could be told to leave the area.
But the Coast Guard's officers replied they did not have a helicopter in the area. Lincoln said the pilot, Martin "Marty" Diercks Jr., 43, of Bettendorf, landed the helicopter just a few minutes later at the Clinton Municipal Airport.
Turns out Diercks was flying overhead to help in the search for the man - something he chose to do on his own. Diercks told investigators he flew up Tuesday and spoke with Camanche police that afternoon about returning Wednesday, before the silt in the river got stirred up, so he could see into the water. He was unaware the sheriff's department would be out there with a cadaver dog and was apologetic about the situation.
But Lincoln said the issue was that deputies with the sheriff's department thought the pilot was with the Coast Guard. Diercks said he always has seen other private aircraft painted to resemble U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force markings; he told Lincoln he "liked the Coast Guard" and decorated the helicopter with decals and paint to match.
Lincoln asked him if he had the Coast Guard's permission to use its name and decals, and he said "no." Lincoln explained to Diercks that, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, national security might have had him shot down, because he was within 10 miles of the Quad Cities Nuclear Generating Station in Cordova, Ill.
Lincoln said the issue is between Diercks, the Coast Guard and possibly the Federal Aviation Administration, which controls airways across the country. Diercks "had the best of intentions," according to the sheriff, and no local charges will be filed.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Gregory Collins in Rock Island told the Clinton Herald that a report on the incident has been forwarded to the regional office in St. Louis and the office was waiting for further directions before taking any action.
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©Clinton Herald 2004
