man shoots down drone over backyard

[Lee Borgersen]

  Kentucky man shoots down drone hovering over his backyard .

 The way William Merideth sees it, it’s pretty clear-cut: a drone flying over his backyard was a well-defined invasion of privacy, analogous to a physical trespassing.

Not knowing who owned it, the Kentucky man took out his shotgun and  three blasts of Number 8 birdshot to take the drone out.

"It was just right there," he told Ars. "It was hovering, I would never have shot it if it was flying. When he came down with a video camera right over my back deck, that's not going to work. I know they're neat little vehicles, but one of those uses shouldn’t be flying into people's yards and videotaping."

Minutes later, a car full of four men that he didn’t recognize rolled up, "looking for a  "

"Are you the son of a that shot my drone?" one said, according to Merideth.

His terse reply to the men, while wearing a 10mm Glock holstered on his hip: "If you cross that sidewalk onto my property, there’s going to be another shooting."

The men backed down, retreated to their car, and waited for the police to arrive.

"His only comment was that he hoped I had a big checkbook because his drone cost $1,800," Merideth added.

The Kentuckian was arrested Sunday evening in Hillview, Kentucky, just south of Louisville and charged with criminal mischief and wanton endangerment. He was released the following day. The Hillview Police Department did not immediately respond to Ars’ request for comment.

A measured approach?
The report of the downed drone comes a month after Ars reported on a similar incident in Modesto, California. But in that case, the drone operator was flying his drone over his parents’ farm, and it was shot down by a neighbor.


Here, Merideth, who operates a local trucking company, said that he had seen "two or three" different drones in his backyard previously over the last year and was disturbed by their presence. "What recourse do we have?" he asked.

The 43-year-old man claimed that law enforcement officials, including the county jailer, told him privately that they agreed with his actions. "The people that own the drones and the people that hate guns are the only ones that disagree with what I did," he said. "Now, if I’d have had a .22 rifle, I should have gone to jail for that. The diameter of those things are going to come down with enough force to hurt somebody. Number 8 birdshot is not. Number 8 is the size of a pinhead. The bottom line is that it's a right to privacy issue and defending my property issue. It would have been no different had he been standing in my backyard. As Americans, we have a right to defend our rights and property."

So what’s next in this bizarre tale?

"We have a lawyer and there's a court date and then there's going to be a hearing," Merideth said. "It's not going to stop with the two charges against me, which I'm confident that we'll get reduced or get dismissed completely."

And what would Merideth like to tell this errant drone operator when he meets him again?

"I would just like [him] to get some education on his toy and learn to respect the rights of the people," he said. "It's fine and dandy, and I think it's cool there's a camera on it, but just take it to a park or something—he's not a responsible drone owner."


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[The General]

 

Love the story

[Boar]

perfect!

[ray634]

I would have done the same thing if I did not know who it was.

[Lee Borgersen]

I thought you would be interested in this video I found on MSN: Kentucky man arrested after shooting drone out of sky.

Video here:
 http://a.msn.com/09/en-us/AAdIvYv?ocid=se

[beeker]

was bound to happen sooner or later.. i'm sure some regulations will be coming soon

[DDSBYDAY]

  I have started flying one.  They are a lot of fun.  Not that easy to fly.  If I can master it I would like to get a high end one to do some aerial photography.   The majority of them only have a 12 15 minute flight time so don't get to worried if you hear on buzzing around.  You can get some pretty cool 4k video and pictures from 100 ft up.

[glenn57]

Not even one of those can help you with fishing!!!!

[Lee Borgersen]

  I have started flying one.  They are a lot of fun.  Not that easy to fly.  If I can master it I would like to get a high end one to do some aerial photography.   The majority of them only have a 12 15 minute flight time so don't get to worried if you hear on buzzing around. You can get some pretty cool 4k video and pictures from 100 ft up.

Looks like you won't be needing the old periscope any more. I'll give you $5.00 for it.  I may be able to sell it to Glenn for $25.00.

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[snow1]

I've read a few drones were shot down over a gun range not long ago,seems the neighbors near the range have issues with folks legally shooting guns on the range,trap shooters have enough excuses why they miss let alone "did you see that that flying saucer?" then Bang! down she came.Rightfully so in my book.

[glenn57]

  I have started flying one.  They are a lot of fun.  Not that easy to fly.  If I can master it I would like to get a high end one to do some aerial photography.   The majority of them only have a 12 15 minute flight time so don't get to worried if you hear on buzzing around. You can get some pretty cool 4k video and pictures from 100 ft up.

Looks like you won't be needing the old periscope any more. I'll give you $5.00 for it.  I may be able to sell it to Glenn for $25.00.

Lee, with my charm and good looks I get all the women I need. No need to be a peeping Lee!

[Glenn_S]

I know this is resurrecting an old thread, but I thought folks might want to know the final outcome of this case. The judge dismissed all charges! Said the guy was within his rights to shoot down the drone.

https://www.cnet.com/news/judge-rules-man-had-right-to-shoot-down-drone-over-his-house/

[Boar]

awsome! thanks for posting that newglenn.

[Rebel SS]

If I saw one hovering over my deck, that sumbitch would meet the .40 cal JHP's coming outta my Shield. No hesitation.

[snow1]

Good to know,thanx for posting the out come,I've read that its illegal to shoot thezs "some beeches" down.In the right hands its a great tool,lately the folks on the OD channel have some great new video's of drones recording they're hunts,pretty cool.

[hawg]

I think I've read a couple people were prosecuted for this in cities with firearm ordinances. Not sure if I can hit one with my pellet gun or not? They are going to turn into a huge problem sooner or later in towns and cities I'm guessing. 

[Rebel SS]

Gonna have to start raising attack birds! 

[Gunner55]

I heard a strange noise this summer while I was outside up at the lake. It kept getting louder until I looked up over the trees & here was 1 of these "some beeches"  comin over the trees to hover over our yard. It was just for a few seconds but.................... So this isn't just a big city thing. Seen another story of a guy & his son out duck hunting being harassed by 1 more than once. That story went on to say that he asked the local CO about what he could do about it. I think the CO told him that he wouldn't blame him if he shot it down but he wasn't sure how the courts would feel. In our case it must have been someone from the resort nearby.

[LPS]

Ya saw that one on the news where this guy would fly his drone over the fenced in yard to watch this guys daughter sunbathe.  He shot it down and did get into some trouble.  It was in a city...   They didn't show his daughter though.  She must have been  pretty hot!!!      I wonder how much a drone costs????   lol

[Weasel]

I don't understand why people think invasion of privacy is okay. What were they expecting watching a gun owner. Being a gun owner I would've seen a nice easy hovering target.