FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Two helicopter pilots who were arrested nearly three years ago by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office have settled their lawsuit against the law enforcement agency.
Hemming Hemmingsen and Dusan Fridl were arrested in April 2015 on felony charges. Florence County records show Fridl was charged with trespassing and Hemmingsen was charged with unlawful entry of an aircraft and damaging or removing equipment.
Documents show that the two pilots flew a helicopter, originally acquired through a military surplus program, to get it ready for the Florence County Sheriff’s Office to use.
Roughly two months after the men were arrested, the duo’s attorney, Patrick McLaughlin, filed a motion to dismiss the charges. McLaughlin says the pilots took a maintenance flight in a helicopter that was under their supervision.
“Since their arrest, Mr. Hemmingsen and Mr. Fridl have steadfastly proclaimed their innocence and refused to be bullied,” said McLaughlin in a press release. “They turned down offers to drop the criminal charges if they would agree to waive civil liability, choosing instead to fight for justice and demand their day in court.”
McLaughlin says the two pilots were acquitted of the criminal charges by a Florence County jury in January 2016. On Monday, McLaughlin announced the settlement of the duo’s civil litigation via the payment of $150,000 by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
