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Video shows drone spotting man in riverbed after palm tree fire that sparked evacuations
A sheriff’s drone spotted and tracked Miguel Hernandez, 35, after a palm tree fire threatened homes and forced nearby residents to evacuate.
- San Diego County Sheriff deputies arrested Miguel Hernandez, 35, near the interchange of state Routes 125 and 54 after tracking him with a drone. Hernandez allegedly set a palm tree on fire last month in Spring Valley, triggering temporary evacuations.
- The incident began May 25 when the San Diego County Sheriff received reports of a man using a lighter to set a tree on fire near the Spring Valley Swap Meet in the 6000 block of Quarry Road. Fire threatened homes along the 8800 block of Spring Canyon Drive.
- While deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff and California Highway Patrol searched the ground, a pilot with the Unmanned Aerial Systems Program launched a drone over a riverbed. The UAS tracked the suspect's movements and relayed his location to an ASTREA helicopter.
- The Sheriff said, "This coordinated response helped firefighters safely contain the flames and allowed deputies to take the suspect into custody without further risk to the community." Officials grounded the drone to allow firefighting aircraft to safely extinguish the flames.
- Launched in 2016, the UAS Program now includes more than 60 certified remote pilots and a fleet of more than 70 aircraft supporting emergencies, search warrants, and search and rescue missions. This incident demonstrates the program's expanded capabilities over the past decade.
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Drone leads deputies to arson suspect after fire threatens Spring Valley homes
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office used a drone to track and arrest a man who had set a palm tree on fire near the Spring Valley Swap Meet, highlighting the growing role of drones in law e…
·San Diego, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources24
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center23Last UpdatedBias Distribution96% Center
Bias Distribution
- 96% of the sources are Center
96% Center
C 96%
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