The city's fine was minimal. I predict an eventual lawsuit will be more costly.
Davenport man fined $160 for flying drone that hit baby in the face
A 19-year-old Davenport, Iowa, man has been issued a civil citation for flying a drone that struck and injured a 1-year-old last month.
Cassandra Roberts took her 1-year-old son Atticus to Crow Creek Park in Bettendorf, Iowa, on July 24, where he was struck in the face with a drone while sitting on the swings.
The boy had cuts on his face and his mother took him to Trinity Bettendorf Hospital where doctors gave him three stitches on his cheek and two in his lips.
After Atticus was hit, two men flying the drone at nearby soccer fields came over to Roberts and apologized for hitting her son. She was focused on bringing her son to the hospital and did not get their names, Roberts said.
The Bettendorf Police Department wrote on Facebook Monday that the individuals had been identified.
One of them, who was piloting the drone when it struck Atticus, will pay a $160 fine, including a $75 civil penalty to the city of Bettendorf and $85 in court costs, police said.
One-year-old Atticus was struck by a drone while playing in Bettendorf's Crow Creek Park with his mother on July 24. Police have fined a 19-year-old Davenport man $160 for flying the drone in a city park without permission. (Photo: Special to the Register)
A Bettendorf ordinance prohibits flying a drone in a city park without permission, said Bettendorf Police Capt. Justin Paul.
Paul said the permission process runs through the city's Parks and Recreation director, who can give written permission to fly a drone that must be shown to a police officer if requested.
Paul said there may have been two people flying the drone, but the citation was only issued to the person who was flying the drone when it struck Atticus.
As for the boy, Paul said recent pictures show he is recovering.
"I’m sure there’s going to be some scars but it certainly looks a lot better than it did when it first happened," he said.
Davenport man fined $160 for flying drone that hit baby in the face
A 19-year-old Davenport, Iowa, man has been issued a civil citation for flying a drone that struck and injured a 1-year-old last month.
Cassandra Roberts took her 1-year-old son Atticus to Crow Creek Park in Bettendorf, Iowa, on July 24, where he was struck in the face with a drone while sitting on the swings.
The boy had cuts on his face and his mother took him to Trinity Bettendorf Hospital where doctors gave him three stitches on his cheek and two in his lips.
After Atticus was hit, two men flying the drone at nearby soccer fields came over to Roberts and apologized for hitting her son. She was focused on bringing her son to the hospital and did not get their names, Roberts said.
The Bettendorf Police Department wrote on Facebook Monday that the individuals had been identified.
One of them, who was piloting the drone when it struck Atticus, will pay a $160 fine, including a $75 civil penalty to the city of Bettendorf and $85 in court costs, police said.
One-year-old Atticus was struck by a drone while playing in Bettendorf's Crow Creek Park with his mother on July 24. Police have fined a 19-year-old Davenport man $160 for flying the drone in a city park without permission. (Photo: Special to the Register)
A Bettendorf ordinance prohibits flying a drone in a city park without permission, said Bettendorf Police Capt. Justin Paul.
Paul said the permission process runs through the city's Parks and Recreation director, who can give written permission to fly a drone that must be shown to a police officer if requested.
Paul said there may have been two people flying the drone, but the citation was only issued to the person who was flying the drone when it struck Atticus.
As for the boy, Paul said recent pictures show he is recovering.
"I’m sure there’s going to be some scars but it certainly looks a lot better than it did when it first happened," he said.
