Teens Ram Car Through CENTCOM Gates

[Guest]

disturbing..... why no barriers/spikes/shots fired ??? how can this happen ?

Sep 20, 6:39 PM EDT

Teens Ram Car Through CENTCOM Gates

  

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- The military was reviewing security procedures Wednesday after two teens managed to drive a stolen car through a security checkpoint and onto MacDill Air Force Base, which houses key command centers in the U.S. war on terrorism.

Air Force spokesman Lt. Larry van der Oord declined to say how the teens managed to get through the base's security checkpoint, which is manned by armed guards.

"There will be an investigation and they will look at everything," van der Oord said.

Tampa police first tried to stop the white Chrysler before dawn on Wednesday but did not pursue it, instead notifying other officers to watch for it.

Officers reported the car moving at high speed across town until it ran through one of the gates at MacDill.

 

Military police allowed Tampa officers onto the base to pursue the car, and the base's own security forces were also alerted.

The pursuit ended when the teens, driving with their lights off on the base's main road, slammed into a Tampa police cruiser.

MacDill houses both the U.S. Central Command, which oversees forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, and U.S. Special Operations Command, the coordination center for elite military units such as the Green Berets and Navy SEALs.

Police arrested Davaraye Mungin, 16, of Tampa, and Damia Bowie, 16, on a host of felony charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer and grand theft auto. Police said federal charges also were possible.

The teens suffered minor injuries in the crash. It was not immediately known if they had attorneys.

Teens spark police chase across U.S. anti-terror base

MIAMI, Florida (Reuters) -- Two teenagers Wednesday drove a stolen car onto the U.S. military base that commands much of the war on terror, triggering an investigation into the security breach, police and military officials said.

Police in Tampa, Florida, said the joy riders were stopped and arrested only after ramming two police cruisers that had entered MacDill Air Force Base in pursuit.

Police had been monitoring the vehicle as it sped through the Florida Gulf Coast city after eluding a police speed trap, said police spokeswoman Laura McElroy.

The car then "blasted through the gate at the base," and police at that point took up the chase and were waved through by military police, McElroy said.

There was nothing at the gate preventing entry to MacDill, which houses the U.S. Central Command, responsible for U.S. military operations in the Horn of Africa, Middle East and Central Asia and therefore for much of the U.S. war on terror.

Public affairs spokesman Air Force Lt. Larry van der Oord declined to discuss specific security measures in force at the gate but said an investigation had been launched.

"But the thing to remember is that this is an isolated incident. The suspects were apprehended very quickly once they made their way into the base and taken into custody," van der Oord said.

Edited September 21, 2006 by hoss

[Guest]

Posted on Thu, Sep. 21, 2006 

Security tightened at Central Command home after teens crash car

Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. - Security was tightened Thursday at MacDill Air Force Base, home of key command centers in the U.S. war on terrorism, after two teens in a stolen car drove through a security checkpoint and were later arrested.

An investigation was under way into how the teens got past the checkpoint, which was manned Wednesday by armed guards with the authority to use deadly force, Air Force spokesman Lt. Larry van der Oord said.

"They're military personnel, security forces airmen. They're trained, they carry weapons at the gate and they do have that authority (to shoot), but it's a judgment call and every situation is different," van der Oord said.

He said the base has implemented "enhanced security procedures," but would not elaborate. The investigation could take several days.

Tampa police first tried to stop the white Chrysler about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. The car sped away and was spotted later moving at high speed across town until it ran through one of the gates at MacDill.

Tampa officers pursued the suspects onto the base and were joined in the chase by MacDill security forces. The chase ended when the teens slammed into a Tampa police cruiser.

The stolen car was on a road near sensitive military command centers, van der Oord said.

Authorities said when the vehicle crossed onto the base, it had not yet been reported stolen, and base authorities had no way of knowing who was behind the wheel.

MacDill houses both the U.S. Central Command, which oversees forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, and U.S. Special Operations Command, the coordination center for elite military units such as the Green Berets and Navy SEALS.

Police arrested Davaraye Mungin, 16, of Tampa, and Damia Bowie, 16, on a host of felony charges, including battery on a law enforcement officer and grand theft auto. Police said federal charges were also possible pending the outcome of the base investigation.

The teens suffered minor injuries in the crash, and were held Thursday at a juvenile detention facility, said Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy. They had prior arrests on charges including car theft, she said.

She said the teens would make an initial appearance in court within 24 hours of their arrests. It was not immediately clear whether they had appeared before a judge or whether they had attorneys.

Pam Bondi, a spokeswoman for the state attorney's office in Tampa, said she could not release those details because of the suspects' ages.

"Everything in the juvenile system is confidential," Bondi said.

She said authorities were deciding whether to charge the suspects as adults and whether they should face state or federal charges.

The pair can be held for up to 21 days before such a decision is made.

Edited September 21, 2006 by hoss