Like many here, I’m unsure of the authenticity of this report and doubt its accuracy. As alleged, the “security guard“ has committed assault and illegal seizure. The police officers are guilty of pulling taffy.
However this scenario does raise the question of what to do in the event of being interrupted while flying, either by a private individual or an identifiable law enforcement officer. Are drone pilots protected by law while operating their aircraft? If the interrupting person causes a crash, either by distraction or physical contact, who is liable?
Does the drone operator enjoy the same protection that an onboard pilot would have? Or the driver of a vehicle? Or the operator of anything - a chainsaw, a firearm, a tractor - that requires his/her complete attention?
I fly with an iPad. The screen is bigger than a phone and, if I activate the “recording option“ on the app, I have an audio record of the sounds around me back at the ”home point.” (That record is on the iPad and accessible through DJI go4 app‘s “Album.” It’s not on the SD card onboard my “microphoneless“ drone. That records video only with no audio.)
I use that feature as an audio record of the drone’s telemetry which I add as it flies. I can also add comment about what is on the screen for later reference.
Naturally, it also adds all the audio at the control site, including bystanders and a would-be challenger‘s potential accident-causing-intrusion.
Obviously it would also record how I deal with the situation, that knowledge hopefully reminding me to keep my cool.
When my drone is allowed to return it will, of course, be able to add a video record of the proceedings.
Additionally, if I find myself in a similar situation, whether hostile or polite, I would get out my always present notebook and ask for the names and badge numbers of those who are questioning me. My drone, on the landing pad, is still recording and I will do as much as possible in front of the gimbal.
There is nothing to be gained by being belligerent. The drone operator, if she/he has done due diligence, is probably the most knowledgeable person on the scene.
Act like it!