Man Who Crashed Drone Onto White House Grounds Won't Face Criminal Charges

— -- The government employee who accidentally crashed a drone onto the White House grounds two months ago, sparking a pre-dawn security scare, will not face criminal charges, but the Federal Aviation Administration may still pursue administrative action, the Justice Department announced today.

A federal investigation into the matter determined that Shawn Usman, an employee of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, borrowed the drone from a friend but “lost control of” it when he decided to play with it outside his apartment window at 3 a.m. Jan. 26, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said in a statement.

According to an interview with Usman, the drone was flying over a Washington street when he saw it ascend to an altitude of about 100 feet and head in a westerly direction, the Justice Department said.

“He tried to regain control over it, but to no avail,” and a forensic analysis at least partially corroborated that, the department added.

Usman expected the drone to crash somewhere along the national Mall, as its battery was nearing the end of its charge, according to the department. The men went to sleep without knowing where the drone had landed.

"Mr. Usman is pleased and grateful that the U.S. Attorney's Office has decided not to pursue charges in this matter,” an attorney for Usman, James Garland, said in a statement. “This entire incident, while unfortunate and understandably alarming, was totally inadvertent and completely unintentional.”

Usman “wishes to express his sincere apologies to all those affected - especially to the president and his family, as well as to those responsible for ensuring their safety,” Garland added.