Sheriff: Mystery drones are US stealth tests, not ordinary aircraft

By Terri Parker

Sheriff: Mystery drones are US stealth tests, not ordinary aircraft

As mystery drones continue to appear across the country, including in Florida, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw says these are no ordinary machines."These are not store-bought deals. You don't buy these kinds of drones that are the size of this table at the local store. They're very expensive. I know -- we have some. So, you know, they're not commercial deals," said Bradshaw.The White House, however, insists these are all legal commercial or private drones just going about their business.Bradshaw doesn't believe it and doesn't understand why the government doesn't reveal the truth."Why not just be honest and say, 'Here's what we know?' Because nobody's buying this 'we don't know.' Nobody," said Bradshaw.Bradshaw believes they're stealth drones being tested in a certain pattern in the Northeast, being launched near the ocean and then flying to the places they've been spotted."They're testing stealth drones, and that's the area they're testing it," he said.However, there is one fact that gives him pause."But it's curious that it's only at night. If they wanted to test them, they could test them during the daytime. And they obviously don't want anybody to see them up close because if a manned aircraft gets close, then they turn the lights out," said Bradshaw.Martin County sheriff: I would be apoplecticThe lack of a real explanation also has Martin County Sheriff William Snyder concerned."I'll tell you this: If there was a large military-grade drone flying over Martin County, I would be beside myself if I couldn't figure it out. I would just be absolutely apoplectic if my community were subject to that," said Snyder.Bradshaw says while the government likely knows what these are, its silence is only adding to the speculation."This could ago away just like this -- just say, 'It's something we're testing. We know who it is, it's the military, but it's top secret, so we can't tell you.' OK," said Bradshaw.Snyder says if the government doesn't come up with a good explanation soon, it is not going to go over well."This may be inexplicable, and I think if they don't have a good explanation yet, the administration will absolutely have egg on their face," said Snyder.Bradshaw, who is in charge of helping the Secret Service protect President-elect Donald Trump and Mar-a-Lago, said he is not worried about any drones flying over that airspace or Trump's Palm Beach County golf courses."If you get into that airspace, there's two F-18s that will be up there in a second," said Bradshaw.Top headlines:Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25 Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

As mystery drones continue to appear across the country, including in Florida, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw says these are no ordinary machines.

"These are not store-bought deals. You don't buy these kinds of drones that are the size of this table at the local store. They're very expensive. I know -- we have some. So, you know, they're not commercial deals," said Bradshaw.

The White House, however, insists these are all legal commercial or private drones just going about their business.

Bradshaw doesn't believe it and doesn't understand why the government doesn't reveal the truth.

"Why not just be honest and say, 'Here's what we know?' Because nobody's buying this 'we don't know.' Nobody," said Bradshaw.

Bradshaw believes they're stealth drones being tested in a certain pattern in the Northeast, being launched near the ocean and then flying to the places they've been spotted.

"They're testing stealth drones, and that's the area they're testing it," he said.

However, there is one fact that gives him pause.

"But it's curious that it's only at night. If they wanted to test them, they could test them during the daytime. And they obviously don't want anybody to see them up close because if a manned aircraft gets close, then they turn the lights out," said Bradshaw.

Martin County sheriff: I would be apoplectic

The lack of a real explanation also has Martin County Sheriff William Snyder concerned.

"I'll tell you this: If there was a large military-grade drone flying over Martin County, I would be beside myself if I couldn't figure it out. I would just be absolutely apoplectic if my community were subject to that," said Snyder.

Bradshaw says while the government likely knows what these are, its silence is only adding to the speculation.

"This could ago away just like this -- just say, 'It's something we're testing. We know who it is, it's the military, but it's top secret, so we can't tell you.' OK," said Bradshaw.

Snyder says if the government doesn't come up with a good explanation soon, it is not going to go over well.

"This may be inexplicable, and I think if they don't have a good explanation yet, the administration will absolutely have egg on their face," said Snyder.

Bradshaw, who is in charge of helping the Secret Service protect President-elect Donald Trump and Mar-a-Lago, said he is not worried about any drones flying over that airspace or Trump's Palm Beach County golf courses.

"If you get into that airspace, there's two F-18s that will be up there in a second," said Bradshaw.

Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

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