Calgary police seek public assistance in drone incidents

The Calgary Police Service is seeking public assistance to identify an individual believed to have been operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone in the community of Crescent Heights and the McCall Lake Golf Course earlier this week.

At approximately 2:10 p.m., on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, an unknown man was seen operating a large UAV in the vicinity of the McCall Lake Golf Course, located at 1600 32 Ave. N.E.

On the following day, Thursday, June 1, 2017, at approximately 4:10 p.m., the same man was believed to have been seen operating a UAV from the green space located near 1201 Crescent Rd. N.W.

On both occasions, the UAV posed a danger to manned aircraft, especially on May 31, as the McCall Lake Golf Course is in the flight path for the Calgary International Airport.

The man is described as middle-aged, Asian, with black hair. He was wearing light-coloured clothing.

These matters also coincide with an increase in reported incidents where UAVs have come into close proximity of the Calgary International Airport or aircraft. Two recent incidents may have caused a flight disruption and interruption of operations at the airport. An interaction between a UAV and manned aircraft can have catastrophic results.

Anyone with information on these incidents or the identity of the individual is asked to call the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234, the Traffic Section office at 403-567-4000, or email uav@calgarypolice.ca. Tips can also be left anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org

TEXT: tttTIPS to 274637

The Calgary Police Service encourages the public, before they fly a UAV, to go to the Transport Canada website and review the rules and regulations in regard to safe UAV usage and in particular, the Interim Order in Respect of Use of Model Aircraft. The public is also advised that due to the Interim Order, they cannot fly within 12.5 kilometres of the Calgary International Airport. More information is available online at www.calgary.ca/drones.

Case #17223666 (McCall Lake)/#17225048 (Crescent Heights); #4624