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Man arrested for downing drone This photo was taken from a drone moments before it was allegedly shot down by the man in the photo, identified as Christopher David Grindstaff of Central Point. [Submitted photo] Thursday Oct 19, 2017 at 3:53 PM Oct 20, 2017 at 6:50 AM Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune @RyanPfeil Police arrested a man Wednesday who allegedly used a pellet rifle to shoot down a drone that was flying over the Hoover Ponds recreation area. Central Point resident Christopher David Grindstaff, 33, reportedly turned himself in after learning the incident had spurred a debate on social media, according to a Jackson County Sheriff's Department news release. The case generated much interest after a friend of the victim posted a video of the drone being shot down on the Jackson County Scanner Group Facebook page Wednesday. Grindstaff was arrested on a charge of first-degree criminal mischief, a class C felony, the release said. The charge stems from the cost of the downed drone, which officials listed at more than $1,000. "It has to do with the damage amount, regardless of how you do that damage," said Sgt. Julie Denney of the sheriff's department. Grindstaff was not listed in the Jackson County Jail Thursday. The incident occurred Tuesday evening. In the video posted on Facebook, the drone camera catches sight of a man standing by his vehicle. The drone stops and travels back, capturing the man in the lens a second time. Seconds later, the craft plunges to the ground. The vehicle, a 1994 Isuzu Trooper, is pictured as it drives away. "In another still photo, (Grindstaff) appeared to be pointing a rifle toward the drone, just before the drone crashed to the ground," the news release says. Deputies determined the drone was downed with a "high-velocity air rifle" that fired .177-caliber pellet. The case sparked a debate on the Scanner Group Facebook page, with some people concerned that a gun was fired into the air and others defending the act as a means of maintaining privacy. "This isn't the Wild West. People can't be shooting down drones no matter how they feel about them. What goes up, comes down, and shooting into the sky is very dangerous," one person commented. Others voiced support for Grindstaff. "You flew back and stared at him. Don't (complain) about getting shot down. That's you being a peeping Tom creeper. I would have done the same," another person wrote. The case has been forwarded to the Jackson County District Attorney's Office, and to the Federal Aviation Administration for review. — Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil.