Arizona Republic | Feb 05 2005

Arizona's director of Homeland Security said his office is no longer investigating a Phoenix flight instructor who dropped bags of flour over the Tonto National Forest Sunday.

Frank Navarette said pilot Joshua Parriott, 29, and passenger James Klein, 42, of Chandler were guilty of poor judgment but did not violate the Patriot Act, a 2001 law that gives federal law enforcement broad powers to investigate crime and terrorism.

However, the men are not off the hook. On Thursday, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office brought three misdemeanor charges against them, and the Federal Aviation Administration could suspend or revoke Parriott's pilot's license and various certifications.

Parriott's record had previously been clean. Neither he nor Klein could be reached for comment.

Parriott and Klein dropped the bags of flour near the Verde River over Needle Rock Recreation Area as a prank while friends engaged in a game of paintball.

Nearby residents of Rio Verde notified the Sheriff's Office believing they had witnessed a terrorist dropping anthrax into a Valley water source. The incident occurred during the Iraqi elections, when the whole world was particularly alert to potential terrorist activity.

Jeff Myers, a spokesman for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association said he was "appalled."