PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police in Atlantic County, New Jersey, with the help of state and federal authorities, arrested a man they say used a drone to damage swimming pools in the Absecon and Galloway Township area.
Last month, the Absecon Police Department got a call from a homeowner who said a drone hovered over their pool and dropped something in, causing the water to turn green.
After that, police got other similar calls, including one from a Quality Inn motel in Galloway, where the green dye damaged the concrete basin of the pool.
Absecon police, in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration, New Jersey State Police and Galloway Township Police, investigated the incidents. After spotting a drone flying over the Quality Inn on Sept. 1, investigators tracked its path back to a heating and cooling business in Galloway.
Police say 45-year-old Patrick Spina IV, the owner of Comfort Solutions Heating and Cooling (345 E. White Horse Pike), is the person responsible. Spina has been released from police custody, pending court proceedings. Officials say he faces several counts of criminal mischief.
Absecon police say the substance dropped from the drone has been identified as "Sea Dye" — a material used by sea rescue services — and its use in this context is unlawful.
Police in Absecon and Galloway encourage any residents or businesses who may have fallen victim to the drone pranks to come forward and report the incidents to help ongoing investigations.
For Absecon: Contact Detective Neal Galletta at 609-641-0667, ext. 216.
For Galloway: Contact Detective Sergeant First Class Jason Kiamos at 609-652-3705, ext. 331.
