A drone was flown into Comerica Park during the Detroit Tigers’ home opener Friday, with the operator identified and taken into custody by law enforcement, according to the Detroit Police Department’s public information director.
The drone was flown into the stadium about 1:43 p.m. during game play, with the incident originating from the top floor of the parking structure at Brush and Adams, Vic Pratt, the department’s PIO, told the Free Press in a text message.
He indicated the drone operator was quickly identified and taken into custody by law enforcement near the scene. The FBI, Michigan State Police and Detroit police are investigating.
No additional details about the individual who was arrested are being released. The drone was confiscated, Pratt indicated. The game was scheduled to start around 1:10 p.m. Friday.
Pratt indicated there was no stoppage in play, and no threat to the public. He said airspace is temporarily restricted during Tigers’ games, and is in federal violation, bringing the FBI into play.
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This is the second time someone has been detained after a drone was flown into the ballpark during a large event.
In September, Green Day band members were frantically waved offstage mid-song, bringing a 10-minute pause in their concert at the ballpark.
Detroit police said then that an authorized drone was spotted above the 30,000-plus concert crowd, and the band was removed in the name of safety.
Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit police: Drone flown into Comerica Park during Tigers’ home opener
Reporting by Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
