Drones over schools prompt calls
SLINGERLANDS – On Thursday, Oct. 12, Bethlehem police received reports of a drone being flown over Slingerlands Elementary, Eagle Elementary, and the Bethlehem Central High Schools. Officers responded and were able to locate the drone pilot.
The drone pilot was interviewed and provided his Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) credentials for drone operation and provided information regarding why he was flying the drone in the area. The pilot works for CoStar Group which is a commercial real estate company that assists commercial real estate buyers, sellers, and investors.
Detectives did conduct an investigation into the matter which included contacting the FAA, verifying the pilot’s credentials and discussing regulations regarding drone activities.
The CoStar Group was also contacted regarding notifications to the Bethlehem School District and the Bethlehem Police Department regarding future activities that require them to fly over school grounds.
According to the FAA, the drone pilot has the legal authority to fly the drone over these locations as they are not designated “no fly zones”.
Felony DWI on Delaware Avenue
DELMAR – Bethlehem police observed a gray 2020 Nissan Rouge traveling at a high rate of speed on Route 85 on Saturday, October 7 at 1:48 a.m.
According to reports, officers clocked the vehicle with radar traveling at 75 mph in a posted 55 mph zone.
The officers stopped the vehicle on Delaware Avenue. While interviewing the driver, Michael Ragone, 45, of Clarksville, officers observed him to have bloodshot and watery eyes and an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath. He told police that he had two Heineken beers at 9:30 p.m.
He was given and failed field sobriety tests and tested positive for breath alcohol on a pre-screening device.
At the police station he provided a breath sample that returned a .06 percent BAC.
He was charged with DWAI, a misdemeanor, but because Ragone had a prior conviction for DWI in the past 10 years, he was charged with felony DWI.
Ragone was also ticketed for speeding. He was given an appearance ticket and a bill of particulars and released.
Ragone is due back in court on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
