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Guest Thinkers — November 12, 2009

Plane Stupid

Police in Georgia say a pilot tried to hit officers with his plane at a small airport.

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Dan Wayne Gryder was jailed yesterday after he was charged with two counts of aggravated assault following an incident which police officers claim Gryder attempted to run them over with a small aeroplane. “Griffin police investigator Bryan Clanton tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the 48-year-old Gryder was driving his car across the runway at Griffin-Spalding Airport. Officers tried to issue him tickets, but he boarded the small plane without signing. Police say he threatened to strike officers with the plane. Police say deputies flooded the area and ordered him to stop but he continued to taxi. Sgt. John Hayes says Gryder attempted to fly away but didn’t have enough fuel and was arrested. The jail said Gryder did not have a lawyer. Griffin is southeast of Atlanta.”

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