Police Told Drone Operator He Was The One In The Wrong

Among the likely tens of thousands of people to unwrap a drone this Christmas season was Chris Van Meerhaeghe, a real estate photographer who intends to use the aircraft in his business.

Van Meerhaeghe got his drone a few days before Christmas, and immediately began to fly it around his house to learn its operation.

But then on the Thursday before Christmas, he decided to walk with the controller and fly it around his Kansas City, MO neighborhood.

Bad idea, according to a report from television station WDAF.

Someone started to shoot at his drone. Van Meerhaeghe said he hit the camera button and circled to see where the shots were coming from. Less than a minute later, a neighbor pulled up and started making threats about the aircraft, he said.

Van Meerhaeghe said the video does not clearly show anyone involved in the incident, even when he descended from 110 feet to about 36 feet.

But here's the kicker. When the police arrived, they said the neighbor, who was not identified and used an airsoft gun ... basically a BB gun ... to shoot at the aircraft didn't do anything wrong. In fact, they said Van Meerhaeghe could be charged with flying a drone illegally in Kansas City.

That may not be the case. Both the Kansas City Police Department and the City of Kansas City told the station that it was legal to fly a drone in the city, but the operator does have to follow FAA guidelines.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.faa.gov/uas