A 31-year-old man from Atlantic City, N.J., has been indicted after being accused of flying a drone and dropping dye packs into both residential and commercial pools in the area. The man has been identified as Anthony Spina, formally indicted on third-degree conspiracy to commit criminal mischief and criminal mischief charges, according to CBS News and the prosecutor’s office.
An image of one of the incidents shows a startling lime green, which proved to be both a shock and an expensive fix for pool owners, and came out to at least $2,000 in damage.
Spina’s reign of green terror over swimming pools took place roughly between June 1 and September 1, 2023. With tracking software used during the investigation, authorities were able to connect the drone to Spina and an alleged co-conspirator who committed the green crimes together. Multiple digital devices were seized during his arrest.
But the surprises don’t stop there.
In September 2023, a man of the same last name, a 45-year-old Patrick Spina IV, was arrested on the exact same charges. He was a business owner from Absecon, N.J., and he too flew a drone to drop green dye into neighborhood pools.
Spina IV was released on a summons, having cooperated with authorities, according to 6abc Action News. In regard to the Anthony Spina indictment, authorities have not clarified whether a relationship exists between the two defendants or the incidents, leaving us to speculate about the legend of the Pool Dye Guy. Are the two connected? Was it a conspiracy? Coincidence?
All we know for sure is that pool owners in New Jersey will no doubt be grateful for their pools staying clean and clear from anything green — algae or otherwise.
