Russel J. Percenti, a 32-year-old man from New Jersey, was arrested after shooting down his neighbor's drone with a shotgun, NBC Philadelphia reported.
According to the owner of the drone, he was flying his unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over the neighborhood to take photos of a nearby property that was under construction.
Shortly after the drone reached the spot, the owner heard gunshots before losing control of his UAV. The owner then walked over to the area where he flew his drone to recover it. Upon inspecting it, he noticed that the drone had multiple holes.
The owner then called the Lower Township Police Department to report the incident. Patrolman Michale Nuscis responded to the scene and he was directed by the drone owner to where he heard the gunshots, according to Fox News.
After asking around, Nuscis went over to Percenti's home and asked him about the incident. While questioning Percenti, the law officer saw the shotgun used to shoot down the drone.
Percenti was immediately placed under arrest on Friday at around 5:30 pm. He was charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and criminal mischief.
Aside from the charges, Percenti's firearm was also confiscated and will be used as evidence against him.
According to the court ruling, the bail for Percenti's case was set at $2,500. The suspect was able to settle the required minimum of 10%, or $250, to be released from jail, Digital Trends has learned.
Even though a bail amount has already been set, the owner of the drone can still require Percenti to pay financial compensation for the destruction of his device.
Depending on the brand and type of drone as well as the digital camera attached to it, Percenti may end up paying owner hundreds or thousands of dollars.