Man shoots down a drone flying over his backyard

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Kentucky man William Merideth has no mercy for drones hovering in his backyard.

Mr. Merideth used his shotgun to fire three shots in an attempt to take out a drone that approached his property.

In an interview with Ars Technica, the man commented the following:

"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."

According to the man, a few minutes after he shot the drone, a group of men approached him looking for a confrontation over the shooting. Mr. Merideth threatened the men with his gun and they waited until the police arrived.

The man was arrested for criminal mischief and wanton endangerment. He also had to pay $1,800 for the drone he destroyed.

http://www.aol.com/article/2015/07/29/man-shoots-down-a-drone-flying-over-his-backyard/21215661/?cps=gravity_4816_5500783331765318316

So someone can trespass on your property and spy on you with a camera and you get in trouble and have to pay for trashing the drone? I wonder if you clubbed it with a baseball bat if he would have to pay? I can see legal issues for threatening with a gun, but having to pay for the drone? Ludicrous.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Not a lawyer, and don't know about disagreements between private parties, but if the government (e.g., police) were to send a drone in that fashion, there might be a loophole under the concept of "curtilage." The Fourth Amendment is on life support at best.

[VOL 425]

If you are outside city limits then you can shoot it. I think you own the fist 500 feet above your property line

He should of launched water balloons.

[Robby999 1,024]

[Jacque67 7,328]

Drone porn?

I would have shot it down, too.

[Dashinka 24,494]

Not a lawyer, and don't know about disagreements between private parties, but if the government (e.g., police) were to send a drone in that fashion, there might be a loophole under the concept of "curtilage." The Fourth Amendment is on life support at best.

I read this story as well, and am surprised by it. Unfortunately, there was no information regarding any actions taken against the drone operators. As to the police, I still thought they needed a warrant even if using a drone, but I a also no lawyer.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Irresponsible drone operaters meet even more irresponsible gun owner. Nutty all around.

[GandD 5,966]

Drone lives matter!

[Dashinka 24,494]

Drone lives matter!

Definitely!

[lostinblue 1,989]

_{WDRB News spoke with Merideth Tuesday afternoon, and he gave his side of the story.}

_{"Sunday afternoon, the kids – my girls – were out on the back deck, and the neighbors were out in their yard," Merideth said. "And they come in and said, 'Dad, there’s a drone out here, flying over everybody’s yard.'"}

_{Merideth's neighbors saw it too.}

_{"It was just hovering above our house and it stayed for a few moments and then she finally waved and it took off," said neighbor Kim VanMeter.}

_{VanMeter has a 16-year-old daughter who lays out at their pool. She says a drone hovering with a camera is creepy and weird.}

_{"I just think you should have privacy in your own backyard," she said.}

_{Merideth agrees and said he had to go see for himself.}

_{“Well, I came out and it was down by the neighbor’s house, about 10 feet off the ground, looking under their canopy that they’ve got in their back yard," Merideth said. "I went and got my shotgun and I said, ‘I’m not going to do anything unless it’s directly over my property.’"}

_{That moment soon arrived, he said.}

_{"Within a minute or so, here it came," he said. "It was hovering over top of my property, and I shot it out of the sky."}

_{http://www.wdrb.com/story/29650818/hillview-man-arrested-for-shooting-down-drone-cites-right-to-privacy#WNPoll147728}

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Irresponsible gun owners support irresponsible gun owner in the OP. Shocking!

[lostinblue 1,989]

Irresponsible gun owners support irresponsible gun owner in the OP. Shocking!

Most fathers would be upset with perverts taking a video of their 16 year old daughter sunbathing in her own the back yard.... Not you I see

[Dashinka 24,494]

Irresponsible gun owners support irresponsible gun owner in the OP. Shocking!

Actually, he was very responsible from a gun owners perspective. He waited until it was directly over his property, and used a light shot gun load that would do little harm. The big thing here is some tech geek perverts invading other's privacy.

[Operator 1,927]

Lately I've been going with a full choke when shooting drone, get more on 'em.

[lostinblue 1,989]

_{Well, I came out and it was down by the neighbor’s house, about 10 feet off the ground, looking under their canopy that they’ve got in their back yard," Merideth said ....}

_{Responsible drone operators .}

Edited August 1, 2015 by lostinblue