2 men approaching MacDill get lots of attention, no entry
By ELISABETH DYER
Published August 27, 2004
TAMPA - Two men attempting to enter MacDill Air Force Base through the Bayshore Boulevard entrance raised suspicions Thursday morning, prompting base officials to close that entrance for nearly two hours.
The men approached the gate at 7:45 a.m. in a Buick Rendezvous with New York license tags. They did not provide military identification and had no response when asked where they were headed, officials said.
"Their nonverbals sent up a red flag," said MacDill spokeswoman 2nd Lt. Erin Dorrance. Visitors without military IDs must have a legitimate reason to come on base.
Further inspection revealed wires, antennas and cell phones in the vehicle. Guards called in bomb dogs and an ordnance disposal team.
Authorities determined by 9:10 a.m. the car did not contain explosives, and the gates were reopened about 9:30.
The two men were questioned and released after it was determined they were working for a wireless cell phone company trying to test phone signals on the base. The men were not identified.
