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Recycled Device Had Air Patrol Scrambling After Sending False Distress Signal

YPSILANTI (AP) — Volunteers at the Michigan Civil Air Patrol are standing down after a distress signal that bounced off a satellite took them to an Ypsilanti house — and a false alarm.

Maj. Robert Bowden says an emergency beacon was detected in the area, meaning a possible boater in distress. Instead, four Air Patrol members followed the signal to a house Saturday.

A man who lives there had found the beacon at a recycling center and took it home. He didn't know it was sending a signal. It's about the size of a water bottle.

Bowden says Air Patrol volunteers arrived by van or SUV, but a flight crew was standing by if needed. He suggests people disconnect the batteries if they're getting rid of old emergency locator devices.

 

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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