Residents of a New Jersey hostel had their summer ruined after a man flew a drone over their pool and repeatedly threw green paint into it, the New York Post reports.
Patrick Spina IV, 45, was arrested Monday in Absecon after he allegedly terrorized bathers at local pools for months with marine dye, turning the bright blue water neon green.
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Sandra Woolstion, general manager of the Quality Inn in Galloway Township, said the hotel’s pool has been attacked dozens of times since late June, spoiling guests’ summer fun.
In total, repairing the pool cost him several thousand dollars because the sea paint caused severe damage to the concrete base, Woolstion told the New York Post.
Absecon police said they received a similar report from a homeowner who was swimming in his pool when it suddenly turned green.
The investigation found that Spina had placed dyes in several other pools in Absecon and Galloway throughout the summer.
Working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Absecon police spotted the drone mid-flight on September 1. Authorities tracked the vessel to Spina’s store at 345 E. White Horse Pike in Galloway.
According to the New York Post, Spina was jailed for multiple crimes and has since been released from prison on a promise to appear in court pending trial.
The FAA says Spina could be fined more than $30,000 over these allegations and his drone certification would likely be suspended or revoked.