UPDATE: Sheriff Says Suspicious Drone Was Part of Attempted Social Media Video

(KNSI) — UPDATE (3:00 p.m. Wednesday): Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck says in a follow-up release that his office has spoken to the man involved with Monday’s suspicious activity near the former King’s Inn site in Watab Township.

Department personnel no longer believe there was an attempt to lure the children to the black SUV parked just north of where they were fishing. The person of interest told investigators he was attempting to obtain footage for a future social media post, an ill-conceived attempt at entertainment.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to find the person at the controls of a drone that engaged in some suspicious activity Monday evening.

Deputies were called to the former King’s Inn site in Watab Township at about 6:00 by a woman with five children fishing from shore. One of the kids told a deputy that a drone came out of a wooded area and hovered above them for a short time before it was flown back to the wooded area. They said the drone returned a short time later and dropped a bag of candy near the kids.

Witnesses told investigators a full-sized black SUV that was described as possibly an older black Chevrolet or GMC was parked in the northern portion of the property at the same time the drone was seen. They said the driver of the SUV then made a hasty exit north on Highway 10 following the second flight. The SUV had a partial plate of FED followed a series of numbers and was driven by a man in his mid to late 30s with short dark brown hair. Officers were told the driver was wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information about this incident or the suspects is asked to contact the Benton County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 968-7201 or Tri-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-255-1301 or by clicking here.

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