Indiana Man Says His Privacy Was Violated To Obtain The Pictures

A Cloverdale, IN man says his neighbors used a drone to capture images of his 35-acre property which were then presented as evidence that he was violating local zoning codes.

Television station WISH reports that William Morrison bought the 35-acre property in 1985 with the intent of raising ginseng and to repair automobiles to pay for his retirement. He said he  and his wife planted the ginseng and other crops and kept livestock over the years "and minded our own business." A few years ago, be began raising emus on the property.

But as growth crept nearer to his property, neighbors began to complain about what he kept on his land, and they accused him of violating zoning codes. He says he built a fence and has gone to "great expense and great effort" to shield his property from prying eyes, but they continued to complain.

Then, Morrison says, someone flew a drone over his property and captured images of the area, which were used as evidence against him in the dispute. He said he has seen the drone over his land.

Morrison says that he believes that whoever operated the drone to capture the images was not able to maintain visual contact with the aircraft, particularly during the summer months when the trees are full, which would be a violation of FAA rules.

The court determined that Morrison was in fact in violation of at least parts of the local zoning ordinance, and he told the station he is still waiting to hear what he will be allowed to keep on his property.

(Image from file)

FMI: Source report