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Deputies say the man showed up at the wrong house after crashing his drug-laden drone, and even rang the doorbell asking for it back.
Jason Brooks, 49, was arrested after his drone carrying meth and fentanyl smashed into a home before he tried to retrieve it from the owners. (IMAGE: X)
A Florida man has been arrested after a drone carrying packets of methamphetamine and fentanyl crashed into a residential property, startling homeowners in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said, according to reports by US broadcasters NewsNation and NBC7News.
The incident took place around 1.30am when residents heard a loud bang in their backyard. On stepping out to investigate, they discovered a drone with several drug-filled bags attached and quickly alerted authorities. Deputies responding to the call found the drone along with multiple packets containing narcotics.
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The drone’s owner, identified as 49-year-old Jason Brooks, was located nearby in the property’s driveway. Deputies said he was holding what appeared to be the drone’s remote control when they approached him. Body camera footage released by the sheriff’s office shows Brooks being questioned while deputies examined the bags, one of which carried the words “share this.”
A drone carrying bags of meth and fentanyl crashed in the backyard of a Florida home. Deputies arrested the suspect when he tried to retrieve the downed drone. pic.twitter.com/jWAv7OsXg7— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 21, 2025
Brooks was taken into custody and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell or deliver. Officials added that he faces further charges for operating an unregistered vehicle without a proper tag.
According to footage released by authorities, Brooks had knocked on the homeowners’ front door shortly after the crash, telling them he was searching for a “lost drone.” When confronted, he admitted the device had landed in their backyard. Deputies reminded him that he could not simply enter private property to retrieve it. “I know. That’s why I knocked,” Brooks responded.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said the drone and the seized narcotics have been collected as evidence. Brooks remains in custody as the investigation continues.
About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
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