ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A St. Petersburg man was arrested early Monday morning after police say he flew a drone while under the influence of alcohol.
According to an affidavit, Richard Carpenter, 34, operated a small drone just after midnight in the area of 8100 Martin Luther King Jr. Street North. Investigators said the video showed the drone flying at very low altitude, back and forth near a vehicle and its open driver-side window, at speeds that could have caused injury or property damage.
Police said Carpenter told officers he flew the drone to see who he believed was following him. Officers reported signs of impairment, including slurred speech, glassy eyes, and the odor of alcohol. Carpenter also admitted to drinking alcohol before flying the drone, police said…