“Drone Slayer” cleared of charges: “I wish this had never happened”

Arstechnica.com reports: The Kentucky man who was cited for criminal mischief and wanton endangerment after having shot down a drone over his property has now been cleared of all charges. On Monday, a judge presiding over a Bullitt County District Court hearing dismissed all charges against William Merideth without prejudice, which means the Bullitt County prosecutor could refile the charges before a grand jury. John Wooldridge, the County Attorney, did not immediately respond to Ars’ request for comment. According to local television station WDRB, Judge Rebecca Ward found that because three witnesses said that they saw the drone "below the tree line," the drone flight was a violation of privacy. " "He had a right to shoot at this drone, and I'm going to dismiss this charge," Judge Ward said. The drone’s pilot, David Boggs, meanwhile, previously gave Ars footage showing that the drone was well over 200 feet in the air before it was shot down. But according to Boggs, the judge didn't bother to look at all the evidence, preferring to rely solely on three witnesses who testified in support of Merideth...