DOD warns residents away from urban combat training

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A Dept. of Defense spokesperson has warned Denver residents to keep their distance from military helicopters conducting urban combat training in the city. Lt. Steve Ruh said, “we don’t want you guys to be impaled from flying debris from our helicopters.”

Lt. Ruh would not tell the CBS affiliate in Denver why citizens were not warned in advance of the exercises. He did say that Denver residents had been vigilant in contacting authorities after the exercises began. “Denver has some amazing citizens. I am happy to see that Denver is very proactive — the citizens are — with reaching out, contacting 911 and contacting the news media saying, ‘Hey, look, something is out of the norm here.’”

At least one Denver resident complained that turbulence from the helicopters had strewn items around the yard and shattered a window. Michelle Simpson described the proximity of the exercises to her home as “creepy.”

CBS News 4 has more more details here.

This video is from CBS 4 Denver, broadcast June 18, 2008.

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