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1 Comment [ View ]Breaking News: Missing M-16s returned through anonymous phone call
By MITCH SHAWHILL AIR FORCE BASE — Air Force officials confirmed they have located the missing M-16s after receiving an anonymous phone call from a man who identified their location. He called from a Layton pay phone.
Security Forces Squadron Commander Maj. Shannon Smith said the male suspect called at about 5:45 a.m. this morning and told security officials the M-16s could be found near some horse stables south of the Roy gate.
Officials then located the M-16s, which had not been altered or messed with, Smith said.
The green case containing 12 M-16 rifles was lost somewhere on Wardleigh and Browning roads, just south of the Roy gate, between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday. The weapons were the property of a tenant unit on base and were being transported in a Humvee by a group of airmen who had just finished a training exercise.
Along with the weapons, officials found a note of apology. Smith said they believe the suspect saw it as a crime of opportunity, but changed his mind when he saw how much media attention there was to the incident.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is still investigating the incident and pursuing leads they’ve received on the suspect. Investigators believe the man is a civilian employee on base and returned the M-16s sometime late Thursday night.
The suspect is described as a heavyset white male, 40 to 50 years old, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, with gray hair that’s balding on top. He may be driving a light-colored or green four-door car.
Updated Friday June 6, 2008 at 12: p.m.
HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Officials announced this morning that 12 missing M-16s have been found. More details will be released at a press conference at 11:30 a.m.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations said a green case containing 12 M-16 rifles was lost somewhere on Wardleigh and Browning roads, just south of the Roy gate, between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday. They asked the public for help in locating the M-16s Wednesday.
Security officials believe the case was picked up by a civilian employee of Hill and driven off the base.
The weapons were the property of a tenant unit on base and were being transported in a Humvee by a group of airmen who had just finished a training exercise.
Security Forces Squadron Commander Maj. Shannon Smith did say that, if someone were to come forward with the M-16s, it would likely mitigate any penalty.
Updated Friday, June 6, 2008 at 9:24 a.m.
Hill searches for missing case of M-16s
HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- Two days after a case of M-16s was lost at Hill Air Force Base, security officials say they are fairly certain the weapons are no longer on the base.
However, a security official said they also do not believe the rifles will be easily sold.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations said a green case containing 12 M-16 rifles was lost somewhere on Wardleigh and Browning roads, just south of the Roy gate, between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Security officials believe the case was picked up by a civilian employee of Hill and driven off the base.
The weapons were the property of a tenant unit on base and were being transported in a Humvee by a group of airmen who had just finished a training exercise.
Security Forces Squadron Commander Maj. Shannon Smith said the airmen forgot to secure the tailgate of the Humvee and the case of weapons fell out.
Approximately 15 minutes passed before the airmen realized the weapons were missing. Smith said no ammunition or ammunition magazines were in the case.
When the case was reported missing, the base was closed down and all vehicles were checked before being allowed to leave.
"It's my opinion that those weapons were off the yard fairly quickly," Smith said, adding it was possible that the person who picked up the case was not aware of its contents at the time.
Hill security officials are unsure where the M-16s may be or who has them, but they do have some leads.
Security officials are looking for a heavyset white male, 40 to 50 years old, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, with gray hair that's balding on top. He may be driving a light-colored or green four-door car.
The man was seen placing the container in his vehicle and leaving the area.
The missing plastic case is 18 inches high, 24 inches wide and 3 feet 7 inches long. With the weapons inside, the case weighs 80 to 100 pounds.
Smith said some have questioned how one person could load the case into a vehicle, but said it is possible.
"It would basically be like putting a big bag of dog food over your shoulder. It's less than 90 pounds."
As word of the missing case came out, more and more witnesses have been stepping forward. He said the base also plans to bring in a sketch artist.
"We have had several eyewitnesses come forward and give us fairly similar descriptions," he said.
Smith said the base did not immediately alert the public because officials were putting together witness statements and trying to identify a suspect. News of the missing weapons was released Wednesday evening.
At this point, base officials will not release any information concerning which tenant unit lost the weapons and what kind of disciplinary action will be taken.
Smith did say that, if someone were to come forward with the M-16s, it would likely mitigate any penalty.
One unloaded M-16 is about 39 inches long and weighs about 7 pounds. It's designed for either burst or semiautomatic (single-shot) fire through the use of a selection switch. It has a range of about 1,800 feet and can fire 800 rounds per minute.
The government pays about $450 for one M-16, Smith said, but the rifle could bring anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 if sold privately.
However, he said, it's highly unlikely the weapons could be easily sold because any gun shop would recognize them as government property.
Local law enforcement agencies were contacted Tuesday and alerted of the missing M-16s, but their involvement, other than being on the lookout, is little.
"We were notified on Tuesday," said Davis County sheriff's Lt. Brad Wilcox. "Hill shared some info with us, but it's pretty vague right now. There are no definite suspects or anything. It's just kind of a 'be on the lookout' thing.' "
Layton police Sgt. Mark Chatlin said his department is also on the lookout, but not heavily involved.
"We were provided some basic info on what to look for," he said, "but other than that, we aren't really involved."
The Utah Division of Homeland Security said it had not been contacted regarding the weapons.
"We haven't been asked to participate," said Homeland Security spokeswoman Nicole Hunter. "Hill has their own team that handles this type of thing."
The news of the missing M-16s is the latest in a line of recent Hill mishaps.
In March, the Air Force revealed that electrical fuses for an intercontinental ballistic missile had mistakenly been shipped to Taiwan in August 2006 by a private contractor at Hill Air Force Base.
In mid-April, two soldiers from Fort Lewis, Wash., were driving a rented SUV as part of a Joint Tactical Air Control unit when it was strafed by 20 mm munitions from an F-16 flown by a Hill pilot at the Utah Test and Training Range.
A few days later, Hill disclosed that classified military components containing trace amounts of depleted uranium were incinerated at the Wasatch Integrated Waste Management plant in Layton.
An investigative report on the missile fuses has been delivered to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Investigations into the other two incidents are ongoing.
Officials are asking that anyone with information about the missing M-16s call the 75th Air Base Wing Security Forces office at 777-1852 or 777-3057 or contact local law enforcement authorities.
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"Security officials are looking for a heavyset white male, 40 to 50 years old, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall, with gray hair that's balding on top."
That describes about 50% of the HAFB civilian male work force.
This is a serious situation and I'm not making light of it but I found that part a little funny.
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