Impeded In Bushwick Investigation
A Bushwick man was recently arrested for allegedly flying a camera-equipped drone toward an NYPD helicopter during a missing person’s search, police announced on Tuesday night, Sept. 30.
Law enforcement agents identified the perpetrator as Isaac Rosa, 34, of Central Avenue.
Reportedly, the incident occurred just before midnight on Sept. 17 as the NYPD Aviation Unit participated in a search through Bushwick for a reported missing individual.
According to police, pilots on board an NYPD Aviation Unit helicopter spotted a DJI Phantom II remote controlled drone-a quadcopter generally valued at more than $1,200 and equipped with a GoPro Hero camera- climbing over the area and getting close to their chopper.
The pilots were reportedly forced to move away from the drone and call off their participation in the search. However, authorities noted, they used night vision goggles to continue tracking the drone until it landed in the rear of Rosa’s home.
The Aviation Unit alerted the 83rd Precinct, which subsequently dispatched officers to the location. They recovered a drone shortly after arrival.
Rosa was booked on charges of reckless endangerment, obstructing governmental administration and several additional U.S. Code violations.
According to police, Rosa was previously arrested in Manhattan in 2002 for larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
Court records noted that Rosa was released on $1,500 bail during arraignment later that day in Kings County Criminal Court before Judge Laura R. Johnson. He is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 13.
