Thursday, September 19, 2013

Copter pilot contrite about gun-play flight: Charlestown, Rhode Island

CHARLESTOWN — Licensed pilot Dean F. Scalera said he and his buddies won’t be shooting high-powered weapons out of his helicopter in the area of Narrow Lane anytime soon because their Sunday outing panicked residents and brought a police response.

Scalera, 53, who lives in Florida and lists a Charlestown address of 151 Biscuit City Road, was apologetic when reached by phone Monday to discuss the incident. He was on his way to the airport to catch a flight back to Florida. Although apparently not illegal under state law, the spectacle of men firing automatic weapons from a low-flying helicopter Sunday afternoon sent neighbors to their phones to alert police.

Scalera apologized and explained his group was only out for about a half-hour taking shots at a junked car in a gravel bank owned by one of the men in the shooting party. Police responded to the gravel bank to greet Scalera and his eight passengers upon landing.

Police reports indicate the men had been involved in a get-together at the gravel bank at 60 Narrow Lane, a spot they had previously used for more mundane target practice. This time, however, the crew took aim from above the more than 80 acre site armed with semi-automatic weapons. A pick-up truck parked at the gravel bank was loaded with semi-automatic rifles and handguns, police said.

The property, known as Shoreline Sand and Gravel, is owned by Evelyn Smith and her son, John, also of 60 Narrow Lane. John Smith was among those in the helicopter.

Charlestown Police Sgt. Philip B. Gingerella Sr. noted in his report that when he asked Scalera why “he thought it was a good idea to perform this type of activity with large neighborhoods on both sides of the gravel bank” Scalera responded that he believed the helicopter was being flown low enough to be safe and that he knew of “pilots in other areas who have done the same thing.”

“In Rhode Island?” asked Gingerella.

“No, Texas,” Scalera said, according to police.

“This is Rhode Island, not Texas,” Gingerella told the pilot, according to the police report.

“I apologized up and down,” Scalera said. He said he and his friends thought “it would be cool to do this, but we won’t do it again.” He politely said he was rushing to catch his flight and ended the conversation.

Meanwhile, Charlestown Police Chief Jeffrey Allen said his department continues to investigate whether any federal laws were broken and has called for the Federal Aviation Administration to look into the incident. Allen said he has sent the police report and photos to the FAA and will follow up for an investigation.


Story and Comments/Reaction:   http://www.thewesterlysun.com

Related:   http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2013/09/helicopter-gun-play-alarms-residents.html