Coast Guard response to distress call on Jewell Island, ME

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Refplace

Ok, him being a civilian does I think make it easier to stall that conversation.
However the base detecting a cut off transmission and jamming still still deserves a swift response. There are a lot of coast guard personnel at risk and military hardware. Failing to investigate promptly is risking court martial for dereliction of duty.
Sending the cutter is just so easy to whitewash or play off as routine patrol if it all turns out to be a prank.

Yep, but once the cutter is sent, what can they do?

They can presumably disembark at the docks and search the mothballed Coast Guard facility without a warrant. What about the mental institution?

If the guards tell them that the prank has led to a tense situation, but the guard force can handle it and anyone new coming in risks escalation, can the Coast Guard demand to search the whole complex without warrants?