Angry resident shoots firework at police drone: Here’s what happened

A drone helping police find a missing person recently became the target of a wild firework attack — and now one man is facing serious charges.

Last weekend, officers from the Thunder Bay Police Service in Canada were out on an important mission: using a drone to help locate a missing person. Everything was going smoothly until a nearby resident decided to take matters into his own hands.

After spotting the drone flying above, the man confronted an officer on the ground, expressing concern about the aircraft. The officer calmly explained that the drone was police-operated and being used to assist with the search. You’d think that would have cleared things up, right? Wrong.

Despite knowing it was a police drone helping in an emergency, the man set up, lit, and launched a firework straight at it! Luckily, the drone pilot was quick on the controls and managed to dodge the explosive, avoiding damage — and preventing a dangerous crash over the neighborhood.

Officers quickly arrested the firework-launching culprit. The 54-year-old man now faces charges of obstructing the police and damaging an aircraft. He’s been released with an appearance notice and will have to answer for his actions in court.

Now, here’s something many folks might not realize: in Canada (and similarly in the US), drones — especially police drones — are legally considered aircraft. Messing with one isn’t just bad manners; it’s a serious offense that could land you in big legal trouble.

“While some residents may feel uncomfortable with drones operating near their homes, there are no legal restrictions preventing drones from flying over private property,” the police say. “When conducting exigent operational missions, such as missing person or suspect searches, drones may traverse residential areas. The Thunder Bay Police Service makes every reasonable effort to respect personal privacy, and in many cases, the drone is observing areas from a distance rather than directly beneath it. There is no circumstance in which attempting to interfere with a police drone is acceptable.”

Bottom line? Drones are a vital tool for modern policing, especially in emergencies. And no matter how you feel about drones, firing fireworks at them definitely isn’t the answer. So, next time you spot a police drone doing its job, maybe just wave… and leave the fireworks for July 4th!

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