Originally Posted by
porcia83
An interesting story for sure, and finally one that fits this AMA themed thread topic. lol. Odd that the police in the heli felt threatened by the drone above them, but then they or some other cops felt the need to fire something at the drones. Seems as if they might have endangered their own co-workers to make a point. I'm sure there is more to the story, like why one pilot would get charged with stalking, and one with reckless endangerment. Obviously there are both sides to the story, and then the truth. Regardless, it was probably reckless for the MR pilots to be up although it's not clear if they went up while the heli and aircraft were already up, or the LE aircraft showed up while the MR pilots were already there. Hopefully we get the full (or as much of the story) as possible at some point. It's not like the police have ever overstepped bounds in bringing charges they ultimately were unable to sustain in the first place.
As something interesting to note , did you notice the wording of the very last paragraph where it said that the two had faced prior counts involving a previous protest where the reckless endangerment charges were brought due to one Pilot flying threateningly at a highway patrol plane and the stalking involved the second Pilot whose now involved in this new incident ? It sounds as if they haven't yet been charged in the new incident involving the helicopter because they're likely still trying to figure out what they can charge them with ? Also , shouldn't the FAA charge them with these incidents as well , beyond the local prosecution it sounds like they're facing ? If the police do have any kinds of video from inside the police heli showing with certainty that the drone's operator was actually flying at them in a threatening manner , "playing chicken" as it were (aim right at it and see who breaks off course first) or similar and turned them in to the FAA or whoever it is that would prosecute that on a federal level , then I'd bet all kinds of federal endangering an aircraft in flight charges would be levied carrying fines far stiffer than they'd face under the local prosecution ?