Sherman Connecticut News

Intimidation at the Driveway

When Police Powers Are Used to Silence the Press

CT State Trooper In Driveway

This morning at 10:15 AM, my family woke up to a Connecticut State Police cruiser parked in our private driveway. There was no emergency. There was no warrant. There was only an unspoken message: "We are watching you."

My family was unsettled, as any law-abiding residents would be. But the intent of this "command presence" became clear soon after.

The Admission

When I first approached the officer in my driveway, he drove away without speaking. I located him later at Town Hall. When I asked why he was stationed on my private property, he confirmed that he personally filed a complaint with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding my drone photography of the Sherman School construction site.

It is important to note: The FAA has since reviewed my flight operations with regard to federal regulations and closed the investigation after I spoke with them. They were satisfied with my documentation and explanation of events. Meanwhile, state resources were used to deliver a federal investigation.

The Confrontation

When I approached First Selectman Don Lowe to ask about the blinding lights on Route 37, the local roadway and the Trooper in my driveway, the conversation was shut down immediately. He refused to discuss the site safety and zoning violations, stating that they don't apply because the lights you see from the road are inside the building. Instead, he stated that my presence made him 'feel threatened' and warned that he would call the police—effectively using law enforcement as a shield against public accountability.

The contrast in leadership was stark. The State Trooper—despite being the one ordered to monitor my home—remained professional, heard my concerns, and shook my hand. The First Selectman, however, chose escalation over explanation, threatening police action against a constituent simply for asking a question.

It appears that in Sherman, asking for accountability is now considered an act of aggression.

What Are They Hiding?

Why go to these lengths? Why involve the FAA and the State Police over a drone flying legally below 400 feet elevation?

The answer lies in what that drone saw last week: A construction site left open to the elements, a roof unsecured before a storm, and a project that is seemingly cutting corners on safety.

"Intimidation doesn't happen when things are going well. It happens when people are afraid of the truth."

I will continue to ask the questions that the administration refuses to answer. Because in a free society, the police protect the people—they do not silence them.