Authorities have charged Anthony M. Spina, 31, with criminal mischief in connection to a drone scheme that allegedly targeted pools last summer. From June 1 to September 1, 2023, Spina reportedly used drones to drop dye packs into commercial and residential pools, causing the water to turn a greenish-yellow color. The damage is estimated to exceed $4,000.
Officials say Spina was arrested after investigators tracked the drones back to him and an unidentified co-conspirator. At least one drone and multiple digital devices were confiscated during the investigation.
Spina’s indictment comes amid growing concerns over recent drone sightings in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, which have unsettled residents and added to the mystery surrounding drone activity in the region.
Last week, President-elect Donald Trump called for unidentified drones seen across several states recently to be shot down.
“Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country,” he wrote on Truth Social. “Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don (sic) think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shot (sic) them down!!! DJT”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) has called for President Joe Biden to send more federal resources in response to the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
“I wrote to @POTUS to express my concerns about reports of unmanned aircraft systems in and around NJ airspace,” Murphy said in a statement on X. “Since existing laws limit the ability of state and local law enforcement to counter UAS, more federal resources are needed to understand what is behind this activity.”
The letter says, “Existing laws limit the ability of state and local law enforcement to counter UAS, and at my request, Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas briefed my administration and our Congressional delegation on actions the agency would take to learn more about the reported UAS activity..”
“While I am sincerely grateful for your administration’s leadership in addressing this concerning issue, it has become apparent that more resources are needed to fully understand what is behind this activity,” the letter adds, noting that the “continued reporting of UAS activity has raised more questions than answers and prompted an outcropping of conspiracy theories across social media and other platforms.”
Murphy then urged Biden to “continue to direct the federal agencies involved to work together until they uncover answers as to what is behind the UAS sightings.”
