WAUPUN, WI (WHBL/KFIZ) - A 32-year-old Waupun man trying out his Christmas present from his girlfriend brought up a possible security issue at a state prison.
Police Chief Dale Heeringa says early Monday morning the man was flying his drone at his home, which is one block north of the Waupun Correctional Institution, when he lost communication with it. “He reported that he was outside with his drone and it got away from him, and he has concerns that it possibly went inside the walls of Waupun Correctional.” Police contacted prison officials who did a search and found the drone within the walls of the facility.
Heeringa says charges won’t be brought against the man who registered the drone with the FAA. “At this point we think this was an inadvertent act. It wasn’t done intentionally to drop contraband or do anything strange in the institution, and the drone was returned to the owner/operator.”
The chief says new technology like this can be useful or illegal depending on how it’s used. “As a result of people’s bad behavior, you know there are new laws and ordinances made. There’s already talk in the community about whether they should have an ordinance that they can’t fly them in the community.”