Householder, 71, is arrested after threatening drone pilot who was taking photographs for an estate agent with a GUN and firing three shots at the quadcopter
- A man, 71, has been arrested for threatening a drone pilot with an air pistol
- The drone pilot was photographing a house for an estate agent client
- The 33-year-old pilot disarmed the resident who fled the scene in a car
- He was later arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm and causing fear
This is the shocking moment a drone pilot was threatened by a man brandishing a gun while photographing a property for an estate agent.
The incident took place in Cirencester, Gloucestershire on Monday when the pilot, who is fully licenced and certified by the Civil Aviation Authority, was threatened by a man.
During the footage, a man can be seen approaching the drone pilot carrying what appeared to be a black handgun.
The video showed the man point the weapon at the drone pilot.
A drone pilot was allegedly threatened by a local resident with a black gun after he flew his quadcopter to photograph a house for an estate agent client in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The resident told the drone pilot that he had fired three rounds at his device
The man pointed the weapon, which turned out to be an air pistol, directly at the drone pilot
The resident claimed he’d been trying to shoot the drone using the weapon – and at this point, it was not clear whether it was a live firearm or a replica.
The incident took place in Cirencester, Gloucestershire at around 9.30am yesterday.
The 33-year-old man, from Swindon, told the angry resident that he was filming an unrelated property for an estate agent, but the resident continued to act aggressively.
When he prodded his victim with the weapon, he was able to disarm him – grabbing the gun and kicking it away.
The resident then fled the scene in his car.
Following a technical examination by police, the pistol was assessed to be an air rifle.
The drone pilot grappled with the man and disarmed him before the resident fled by car
Police said the 71-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with the intent to cause fear. He has been released under investigation ‘while enquires continue’
Armed officers were deployed and arrested a 71-year-old man from Cirencester when he returned to the location.
A police spokesperson said: ‘Police were called to reports of a person making threats with a weapon on Shepherds Way, Cirencester, at around 9.30am yesterday (Monday 22 August).
‘Armed officers attended the scene and an air rifle was seized.
‘A 71-year-old man from Cirencester was arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with the intent to cause fear. He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.’