Deputies with the Sheriff’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Program are being credited with locating an arson suspect in Spring Valley.
The incident showcases the importance of drones in law enforcement operations.
On Monday, May 25, just after 6:30 p.m., the Sheriff’s Communications Center received a call about a man who was seen setting a palm tree on fire with a lighter near the Spring Valley Swap Meet in the 6000 block of Quarry Road. The fire threatened nearby homes, prompting residents along the 8800 block of Spring Canyon Drive to temporarily evacuate the neighborhood.
At the same time, deputies from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s Station and officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) searched for the suspect.
Meantime, a deputy with the Sheriff’s UAS Program launched a drone to look for the suspect in a riverbed behind Quarry Road. The drone was able to locate the suspect and tracked his movements. The UAS Deputy was able to relay this information to a Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter before grounding the drone to allow firefighting aircraft to safely put out the fire.
A short time later, deputies arrested the suspect, Miguel Hernandez (DOB: 10/07/1990), near the State Route 125 and State Route 54 interchange.
The Sheriff’s UAS Program was established in 2016 with a small team of remote pilots and a limited number of drones. Over the past decade, the program has expanded significantly and now includes more than 60 certified remote pilots and a fleet of more than 70 aircraft.
The UAS Program provides deputies the opportunity to earn their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. After certification and completion of the Sheriff’s Office UAS training course, remote pilots are qualified to rapidly deploy unmanned aircraft in the field. These aircraft support a wide range of law enforcement operations, including search warrants, search and rescue missions, patrol responses and crime scene documentation.
Deputies take on the role of UAS Remote Pilots as a collateral duty in addition to their normal patrol assignments.
In addition to law enforcement operations, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office also uses drones to support first responders during emergencies when the circumstances allow. Each mission is governed by FAA rules, as well as Sheriff’s policies and procedures.
The Sheriff’s UAS Program enhances situational awareness, improves operational safety and strengthens the county’s overall emergency response.
