Stolen Plane DUI: Drunk Man Took Off And Landed Plane Five Times


A man who stole a plane while under the influence of alcohol was arrested on Sunday night after he took off and landed the aircraft three times. Paul Michael Waddle was charged not only with being drunk when he stole the plane, but also for stealing a car and obstructing a police officer.

After he was arrested at the Boulder City Municipal Airport, he told officers that he was attempting to: “complete the takeoff and landing portion of his pilot’s license.”

The arrest report noted that police were called to the Boulder City airport around 11:30 pm, in response to a report that a white Cessna Caravan had been stolen. The stolen plane is owned by Scenic Airlines, which provides tours to the Grand Canyon.

Kameron Wynn Nicholson, Scenic Airlines Assistant Director of Operations, told the police that Waddle had amazingly taken off and landed at least three times and possibly more. Even after police arrived at the airport Waddle took off and landed the stolen plane twice more in a reckless manner.

Sgt. John Glenn from the Boulder City Police Department said to reporters: “In the 20-plus years I’ve been here, it’s the first time we’ve done a felony stop on an airplane.”

After officers ordered Waddle to disembark the plane he ignored them and brandished an object in their direction. He was then tackled by an officer. Glenn said: “He kept reaching for his waistband. The officers decided to go hands-on with him. They were close enough to do that. They took him to the ground, placed him in handcuffs.”

When he was arrested his eyes were reportedly bloodshot and watering and his speech was slurred. Alcohol was clearly present on his breath and when he was breathalized he showed a preliminary reading of.132.

Here is a video from Fox 5 on the stolen plane DUI incident:

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