Police seek suspects in aircraft injury

TAMPA - Tampa police are investigating to find out who was operating a miniature, radio-controlled helicopter that hit a young woman last Friday, seriously injuring her.

The incident happened last Friday in Gadsden Park in South Tampa. Maresa Poole, 17, was knocked to the ground by one of the aircraft, believed to be a three-foot remote controlled helicopter.

She was hit in the head, and her hand and arm were badly cut. She ended up with 17 staples in her head to stop the bleeding, and will need reconstructive surgery on one of her hands.

Police say they are making headway in tracking the men who were flying the helicopter, and many who fly similar aircrafts as a hobby say the suspects shouldn't have been flying in a public park in the first place.

A FOX 13 photojournalist captured video of men leaving the park after with their helicopters shortly after the incident. Police say one of the men called 911 after the three-foot long aircraft hit Poole.

Poole said the helicopter seemed to be flying closer and closer to her as she walked through the park.

"They put it around me, flying it. I didn't know it was that close, I thought it was around, just flying around, and the next thing I knew, I feel something hit my ear," she recalled.

Police say one of the men attempted to render aid to the injured girl before leaving, and his voice was caught on a 911 recording.

"I need an ambulance. Interbay Park immediately. I got a girl hit by an R.C. helicopter," the caller says. . "An R.C. helicopter was flying, the battery died, a girl walked underneath and got hit by the helicopter."

Police say they are also anxious to talk to the men, who officers say were violating city law banning remote control aircraft in city parks. Police also want to know if the helicopter was buzzing or chasing the girl before it hit her.

"They could be out there just flying their airplane and lost power and it falls and hits this woman, that's a freak accident," said Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy. "But if they were antagonizing her, if the helicopter was circling around her, following her in anyway, then it would seem there could be intent involved."

There are thousands of hits on remote control helicopter enthusiasts' websites, where commenters are critical of those who fly their machines in public parks.

Tampa police investigators would like to find some witnesses, especially the man in who came to help Maresa after she was hit. Anyone who was in Gadsden Park last Friday afternoon and saw the model helicopters flying is asked to contact Officer Augello at 813-354-6620.