A Culver City resident, 56-year-old Peter Tripp Akemann, has agreed to plead guilty for recklessly operating a drone that eventually crashed into and damaged a Super Scooper while it was involved in firefighting efforts. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed this development on a recent Friday.
The incident occurred earlier this month and resulted in the Super Scooper Quebec 1 colliding with the drone. This meant the aircraft had to be taken out of operation for service and repair two days after the fire erupted. Akemann admitted to illegal conduct in the operation of the drone, which the DOJ claims posed an imminent safety hazard to the crew of the Super Scooper.
The drone was flown by Akemann in airspace where first responders were making brave efforts to protect lives and property, said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally. Investigations revealed that Akemann drove to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica and launched his drone from a parking structures top floor to observe the fire damage.
As a result of his actions, which federal prosecutors charged as a misdemeanor, Akemann faces up to one year in federal prison. He also agreed as part of his plea deal to pay full restitution to the Government of Quebec, the supplier of the plane, as well as to an aircraft repair company. The repair costs were estimated to be at least $65,000.
Moreover, Akemann will be required to complete 150 hours of community service towards the 2025 Southern California wildfire relief efforts as part of his agreement. The wildfire broke out on January 7, affecting nearly 24,000 acres and destroying thousands of houses in extremely windy conditions. The Los Angeles Fire Departments staffing and water supplies have since sparked controversy. Human actions are believed to be the cause of the fire, which led to twelve casualties.
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