Man detained after drone flies near police helicopter over Hollywood

A man who allegedly flew a drone in a manner that forced a Los Angeles police helicopter pilot to take evasive action above Hollywood was facing possible prosecution Friday for interfering with police work, authorities said.

The operator and his drone were about a quarter mile apart when the device flew into the path of a helicopter assisting with a suspect search in Hollywood around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, said Lt. Mike Ling of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Station.

The man, in his 40s, was operating the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle from a mini-mall parking lot at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and North Gower Street, Ling said. The helicopter was over Sunset and Western Avenue when its pilot took evasive action, Ling said.

LAPD Officer Nuria Vanegas said the man was detained and released, and police confiscated the drone and some video equipment.

Police will present the case to the District Attorney’s office for possible prosecution of the man for interfering with police work, Vanegas said. Authorities also will consult with the Federal Aviation Administration to determine if the drone’s proximity to the helicopter breached FAA regulations, Vanegas said.

—City News Service