Police issued a ticket to a D.C. man who was illegally flying a drone that crash-landed at a park near the White House early Friday.
The drone was observed flying around the Washington Monument around 1:20 a.m. Friday by officials with the U.S. Park Police and U.S. Secret Service. Park Police spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Rose said the man lost control of the drone and it landed on the Ellipse, a grassy park area located just south of the White House.
The operator of the drone, identified as Howard Solomon III, was issued a federal citation but not arrested, according to Park Police. Officers also seized the man’s drone, a F182 6 Axis Quadcopter.
Sgt. Rose said there was no indication that the operator had any nefarious intent.
Operation of drones is prohibited in the District of Columbia and areas within 15 miles of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Additionally the National Park Service, which oversees the National Mall, also bans drone use.
Friday’s incident is the latest of several instances in which drone operators have caught the attention of federal law enforcement.
In January, an employee of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency was piloting a small drone when he accidentally crashed it onto the White House lawn. And in May, a man was arrested after trying to launch a drone near the White House fence.
Park Police say this is the ninth incident involving illegal operation of drone in the greater Washington, D.C., national park space this year and the 26th since 2013.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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