A seemingly ordinary day in upstate New York took a dramatic turn when a resident decided to take drone matters into his own hands – with a shotgun. 60-year-old Joseph H. Dishaw of Ogdensburg is facing charges after allegedly shooting down his neighbor’s drone.
According to the New York State Police’s press release, the incident occurred on June 18 when troopers were called to Haggert Road in Oswegatchie for reports of a shot-down drone. Investigations revealed that Dishaw became irate after spotting his neighbor’s drone flying over his property. His response? Discharging a shotgun in the direction of the drone, according to the police report.
Thankfully, no one was injured in this case. However, Dishaw’s hotheaded solution resulted in him facing charges of menacing in the second-degree and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was arraigned in the Town of Morristown Court and released on his own recognizance.
While the exact reason for Dishaw’s frustration remains unclear, you should note that shooting down a drone, even if it’s hovering over your property, is a big no-no. DroneDJ writes that federal law prohibits such actions due to the potential safety hazards involved.
So what can you do if a drone decides to play Peeping Tom over your backyard? No, don’t take the guns out. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) offers a more grounded solution. Residents who witness drones violating FAA regulations can report the incident to their local FAA flight standards district office. The FAA can then investigate the matter and pursue appropriate action against the drone operator.
[via PetaPixel; image AI-generated with Ideogram]
