Clermont Man Charged After Shooting Down Walmart Delivery DroneClermont Man Charged After Shooting Down Walmart Delivery Drone A 72-year-old Clermont, Florida man faces multiple charges, including a felony, after authorities say he shot down a Walmart delivery drone over his home. Dennis Winn told police that he shot the drone because it was flying over his house. The drone crew, working for DroneUp, a new partnership service with Walmart, stated that they were making fake deliveries to promote their business. The drone crew observed a bullet hole in the drone’s charging system and estimated the damage at $2,500. Officers also observed metal shavings consistent with bullet fragmentation. Winn acknowledges his actions were reckless, as the bullet went over several homes and a small child was playing nearby. He was charged with shooting or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, vessels, or vehicles, criminal damage of $1,000 or more in damage, and discharging a firearm in public or on residential property. Shooting at an aircraft is a felony in Florida. While drones are not allowed to fly over or near “critical infrastructure facilities,” they can fly over residential areas. However, local governments can enact ordinances regarding nuisance, voyeurism, harassment, reckless endangerment, property damage, or other illegal acts arising from drone use. DroneUp representatives stated that they fall under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations governing aeronautics and space. Walmart Inc. and DroneUp have not commented on the incident. Winn could not be reached for comment.
A 72-year-old Clermont, Florida man is facing multiple charges, including a felony, after authorities say he shot down a Walmart delivery drone that he said was flying over his home.
According to an arrest warrant, deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Walmart store in Clermont on Wednesday after a drone was shot down during a delivery.
Representatives from DroneUp, a new drone delivery service partnering with Walmart, told officers they had a two-man crew in a nearby neighborhood promoting their business by making fake deliveries. The crew was at the delivery point outside Dennis Winn’s home on a dead-end street.
After the drone arrived and began its descent, one of the DroneUp employees told authorities that a man, later identified as Winn, pointed a gun at the drone. After hearing a gunshot, the crew ran to the van and drove back to Walmart. The damaged drone also returned to the store.
The crew observed a bullet hole in the drone’s charging system and estimated the damage at $2,500. Officers observed metal shavings consistent with bullet fragmentation. DroneUp’s complainant told officers the drone will be out of service for some time.
When questioned by an officer at his home, Winn said the drone flew over his house, so he shot it with his 9mm pistol. Winn told the officer that he had experience with drones flying over his house and believed they were watching him.
The deputy sheriff said Winn reacted in disbelief when told he had shot down a Walmart drone.
The photo of Dennis Winn was posted to Facebook on Thursday by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. (Courtesy: Lake County Sheriff’s Office)
The deputy told Winn that the damage was $10,000, which was what he had been told at the time. Winn told the deputy that if he had to pay $10,000, he wanted the drone as his personal property.
The deputy told Winn that the bullet he fired had gone over several other homes, and he acknowledged that his actions were reckless. The deputy noted in the affidavit that when officers arrived on the scene, a small child was playing in the cul-de-sac near Winn’s home.
Winn was taken to Lake County Jail and charged with shooting or throwing deadly missiles into dwellings, vessels or vehicles, criminal damage of $1,000 or more in damage, and discharging a firearm in public or on residential property. Shooting at an aircraft is a felony in Florida. Winn was released Thursday on $13,500 bail.
Under Florida law, drones are not allowed to fly over or near “critical infrastructure facilities,” but they can fly over residential areas.
That said, the state does not limit the authority of local governments to enact and enforce ordinances regarding nuisance, voyeurism, harassment, reckless endangerment, property damage, or other illegal acts arising from the use of drones.
The DroneUp representative told Lake County deputies that DroneUp is a drone delivery service as defined in Florida law and falls under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations governing aeronautics and space.
A spokesperson for Walmart Inc. told FreightWaves the company was aware of the incident and referred questions to Lake County law enforcement. DroneUp did not immediately respond to FreightWaves’ request for comment. Winn could not be reached for comment.
Caleb Revill is a journalist, author, and lifelong learner who works as a Junior Writer for Firecrown. When he’s not covering breaking news, Caleb is on the hunt for compelling backstories. Everyone has a story to tell, and Caleb is eager to share them! You can always reach him via email at [email protected].
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on Freight waves.
