New Jersey man arrested for using drones to dump green dye into swimming pools

Residents of a New Jersey inn had their summer ruined after a man used a drone to repeatedly drop green dye into their pool, leaving children and adults sobbing in the heat.

Patrick Spina IV, 45, was arrested Monday in Absecon after allegedly terrorizing local swimming pools for months with marine dye, turning the light blue water into an unpleasant neon green.

Sandra Woolstion, operator and general manager of the Quality Inn in Galloway Township, said her guests have been attacked dozens of times since late June, ruining their summer fun.

“The girls are standing here saying, ‘Oh my God, we want to go swimming.’ Some of them were crying,” she told ABC 6. “I was like, ‘Are you kidding me?!’ I cried myself. I walked into my office and had a breakdown.”

In total, Woolstion said, repairing the pool cost him several thousand dollars, as the marine dye caused extensive damage to the concrete base.

Absecon police said they received a similar report from a homeowner on Aug. 13 who was swimming in his pool when it suddenly turned green.

The Quality Inn in Galloway Township saw its light blue pool transform into an unsightly neon green when a drone swooped in and dropped marine dye. WPVI
The inn's pool was attacked dozens of times over the summer as part of a widespread prank to destroy the pool.The inn’s pool was attacked dozens of times over the summer as part of a widespread pool-dye prank.WPVI

The investigation found that several other pools in Absecon and Galloway were hit with the same dye throughout the summer, with police discovering the pranks were carried out using drones.

Working with the Federal Aviation Administration, police spotted the offending drone flying on Sept. 1, and officials tracked it to Spina’s Comfort Solutions Heating and Cooling office at 345 E. White Horse Pike in Galloway.

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Spina was charged with multiple counts of criminal conduct and has since been released from prison with a summons pending court proceedings.

The strap containing the sea dye was found inside the inn's pool. The strap containing the sea dye was found in the inn’s pool. WPVI
Inn manager Sandra Woolstion said she broke down in tears after repairs cost her thousands of dollars. Inn manager Sandra Woolstion said she broke down in tears after repairs cost her thousands of dollars. WPVI

The FAA warned that Spina could face fines of more than $30,000 for the incidents and would likely have his drone certification suspended or revoked.

“FAA regulations prohibit the unsafe or unauthorized operation of any aircraft. “We encourage the public to report unauthorized drone operations to local authorities to help discourage this dangerous illegal activity,” the agency said in a statement.

A representative for Spina would not comment on the case, but told ABC 6 that his client is cooperating with authorities.

Officials have asked anyone else in the Absecon and Galloway areas to contact police if they, too, have fallen victim to the green dye prank this summer.

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Source: vtt.edu.vn

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