Man arrested after flying toy drone near White House
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A videographer from California is in custody after the toy drone he was flying on Thursday was detected above Lafayette Park, in front of the White House.
The White House was put on lockdown, and Secret Service agents detained the man and told him to land the drone, CBS News reports. Investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department determined that the drone was not a threat to safety, and the man, who was in town to tape an event, was arrested and charged with violating regulations that prohibit the flying of drones over restricted areas.
On Wednesday, the Federal Aviation Administration declared a "No Drone Zone" around Washington, D.C. and communities within 15 miles of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. "The bottom line: Enjoy your visit to the nation's capitol," the FAA said in a statement. "Bring your family, your cameras, and plenty of sunscreen. Just don't bring your drone."
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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
