A Kentucky judge has dismissed all charges against a man who shot down a drone he claimed was harassing his family.
William Merideth, a resident of Hillview, Ky., was arrested last July on charges of wanton endangerment and criminal mischief after pulling a shotgun on a drone he alleged had been spying on his 16-year-old daughter sunbathing in the backyard.
“I was in my right to protect my family and my property,” Merideth told the judge in Monday’s hearing, according to WDRB.com in Kentucky.
But the owner of the drone, David Boggs, claimed flight data proves the drone was flying higher than Merideth had asserted and was not intruding on his family.
Bullitt County District Court Judge Rebecca Ward sided with the defendant, stating that witnesses provided sufficient evidence to confirm his version of events. Merideth said he feels vindicated for the actions he took to defend his family.
“I don’t encourage people to just go out and start blasting stuff for no reason, but three times in one day, three times over the course of a year, six times total, over one property? That’s not right, that’s harassment,” said Merideth.
