What started as a high-tech wildlife check-in ended with handcuffs in Lee County, where deputies say a man opened fire on a sheriff’s office drone that was in the air assisting a search. The drone’s live video feed reportedly showed the man taking aim and shooting, allowing deputies already nearby to close in and arrest him within minutes.
Drone Spotted BB Gun Fire During Bear Search
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, its Drone First Responder unit had been launched to look for a reported bear when the drone operator noticed several people apparently shooting into a wooded area. The aircraft recorded one man raise what investigators determined was a BB-style rifle and fire at the drone. Deputies then used that real-time feed to track the location and take the suspect into custody shortly afterward, as reported by LiveNOW from FOX.
Deputies Say They Recovered BB Rifle, Filed Felony Charge
Lee County deputies say they recovered a BB-style rifle loaded with steel projectiles and charged the suspect with shooting or throwing deadly missiles into an aircraft, according to CBS News Miami. That offense falls under Florida law (see Florida Statutes §790.19), which treats shooting at an aircraft as a felony…