IT’S A BIRD…IT’S A PLANE…ITS SUPER DRUG-DRONE!!
GEORGIA MAN ARRESTED IN JOHNSON COUNTY, KY. FOR OPERATING REMOTE CONTROLLED QUADCOPTER DRONE IN ATTEMPT TO CARRY MARIJUANA TO FEDERAL PRISON IN MARTIN COUNTY, KY.
OCTOBER 3, 2023 – written by WADE QUEEN
THE CRIMINAL OPERATIVE & HIS CONTRABAND COPTER: ANDRE MANNING, 33, OF DUBLIN, GEORGIA, WAS ARRESTED BY POLICE AFTER HE WAS CAUGHT OPERATING A DRONE, PICTURED SITTING UNDER A PORTABLE TENT AT THE SCENE WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS INTERCEPTED THE CRAFT ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, ON NEW ROUTE 3 IN JOHNSON COUNTY, KY, NEAR THE FEDERAL PRISON ACROSS THE LINE IN MARTIN COUNTY.
A wacky criminal endeavor attempt in our neighboring two counties was snared and foiled when state police and deputies caught an out of state man operating a remote drone attempting to smuggle illegal material to a federal prison.
It all began to unfold on Thursday morning, September 30, when a major police sting operation unfolded in StoneyBrook Estates on New Route 3 in Johnson County, KY. Local residents were woken up to a large police force presence as law enforcement officers stormed in to intercept a drone transporting a substantial quantity of illegal contraband.
According to a representative of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the criminal cargo goods primarily consisted of cell phones and cigarettes believed to be en route to the nearby United States Penitentiary Big Sandy in Debord, KY., across the county line in neighboring Martin County.
Law enforcement officers apprehended both the drone and the contraband on-site.
Specific details surrounding the case remain sparse, but according to local residents, they gave descriptions of seeing a black man, who was later identified by police as Andre Manning, 33, of Dublin, Georgia, being taken into custody. Kentucky State Police Post 9 troopers and Johnson County Sheriff deputies reportedly surrounded Andre Manning while he was operating the remote drone in a partly forested hilltop field.
Kentucky State Police special operations officer Sam Reed however, after the drone plot being stopped, he subsequently stated that as of now, they only arrested Andre Manning on a single charge of trafficking marijuana, less than eight (8) ounces, first offense.
Police cordoned off the area of the detainment and secured the drone under a portable tent to preserve the scene for inspection by state and federal officers.
The Kentucky State Police has not provided an official statement on this unusual criminal case, with area media outlets awaiting for more information to be released about this tantalizing crime caper.
IMHO, cigarettes and cell phones would only become illegal if the drone were in airspace above the prison or on the property.
Only then does it become a promoting contraband charge.
I’m not saying he didn’t fully intend to commit a crime, he did. However the KSP will never prove this in court. It would have made their case stronger if they hadn’t done it in Johnson County. The prison is in Martin County, a 1st year law student could beat this case. Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.