For the last 2 nights, residents in Mercer and Darke Counties have reported hundreds of sightings of drones being flown over the skies. Authorities are investigating after receiving several reports of drone sightings in Darke and Mercer counties Monday night. A sergeant with the Darke County Sheriff’s Office told News Center 7 that they are actively working to learn more about these reports. Exact locations or the amount of sightings were not immediately available. Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman said his office has also received numerous reports of drone sights. The sightings occurred in Fort Recovery, Saint Henry, Coldwater and other rural areas on the west side of the county, according to Timmerman. Additional information was not immediately available. From Sheriff Timmerman:

For Immediate release

Sheriff Doug Timmerman reports his office is aware of the significant amount of drone sightings over the past few nights in Mercer County.

The Sheriff’s Office has been in contact with the Federal Aviation Administration, the FBI, and local law enforcement in surrounding counties including Indiana.  The origins of the drones are not known at this time.  The purpose of the drones flying is also unknown. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to investigate and work with federal agencies in an effort to try to identify the owners and operators of these drones.

The Sheriff’s Office asks citizens to continue to gather any information, or video footage of the drones if possible.  Footage can be sent to the Mercer Sheriff Facebook page and citizens are asked to provide the location of the video footage.  For safety reasons the Sheriff’s Office is asking citizens not to try and chase the drones.