The Police Helicopter Blotter

RCMP Pilot Killed In Crash Of Police Helicopter During Training Exercise

2012-01-18T17:00:56Z

An RCMP AS350 Helicopter after crashing in the snow on takeoff. Photo: CTV News.A civilian RCMP helicopter pilot died Tuesday afternoon from injuries suffered in the crash of his AS350 turbine powered helicopter east of Vancouver. Few details are available except to say that the crash occurred at the end of a training exercise with the Mounties Emergency Response Team, in the Cultus Lake area of Chilliwack. The helicopter was apparently lifting off to return to base when it crashed in front of members of the Emergency Response Team, who immediately came to the pilot's aid. The pilot was rushed to a hospital but did not survive. Heavy snow and strong winds struck the Fraser Valley Tuesday morning but a spokesman for the RCMP declined to speculate if the crash was weather related. The pilot was described by the RCMP as being very experienced, and as having worked for the RCMP as a pilot for a number of years.

Texas Department of Public Safety Helicopter Helps Bust Cockfight

2012-01-18T16:51:08Z

A Texas DPS patrol helicopter assisted the Bexar County Sheriff's Office in taking down an active cockfighting ring on Sunday. The illegal cockfight, in southwest Bexar County had attracted over a hundred people who were watching and betting on the activity. As the helicopter and deputies closed in, people fled in all directions. Still, a total of 74 citations were issued, 26 vehicles were impounded, and $42,000 in cash was confiscated along with a number of roosters and fighting paraphernalia. San Antonio is the largest city in Bexar County.

San Diego Police Helicopter Directs K9 Handler To ATM Thieves Hiding In Brush

2011-12-22T17:07:34Z

The San Diego Police helicopter crew were in the process of putting their helicopter away early Sunday morning when deputies in the Spring Valley area called for assistance. San Diego Sheriff's deputies out of the Lemon Grove station were in pursuit of a pick up truck with a stolen ATM in the back, and two parolees in the front. A witness observed the thieves taking the ATM from a gas station on Campo Rd in Rancho San Diego. A deputy spotted the vehicle as it fled the area, at times blacking out and driving the wrong way on State Route 54 near Bonita. The two thieves abandoned their vehicle in the area of Route 54 and Route 125 and fled into a large open area. As deputies set up a perimeter the San Diego Police helicopter arrived on scene and began to conduct a search of the open area with their FLIR camera. The TFO quickly located both suspects hiding in brush, about 15 feet apart. The tactical flight officer directed a Sheriff's K9 unit to the first suspect who refused to cooperate and was bitten. The second suspect suffered the same fate just moments later. Steven Seda, 40, of Lakeside, and James Silbernagel, 44, of El Cajon, were booked on several felony charges related to this incident. Both have extensive criminal records.

Australian Police Helicopter Crew Helps Nab Purse Snatcher

2011-12-22T00:37:37Z

A helicopter and crew from the New South Wales Aviation Support Branch assisted ground units on Sydneys West side with the pursuit and apprehension of a prolific purse snatch- robbery suspect. It all started Wednesday afternoon when a 20 year old man forcibly robbed two ladies of their handbags- one near Harris Park and another near Pendle Hill. In both cases the suspect fled in a stolen vehicle. Officers were able to intercept the vehicle which fled on South Wentworthville in an attempt to evade. A lengthy foot pursuit followed when the suspect abandoned the stolen car at the end of a residential street and ran into several back yards. A police dog team flushed the suspect out but he continued to resist officers by running across six lanes of the M4 motorway and six lanes of the Great Western Highway. With the NSW police helicopter tracking the suspect from the air, officers eventually closed in and took him into custody. The suspect was being held on three counts of robbery, car theft, and aggravated breaking and entering. The New South Wales Aviation Support Branch operates the following aircraft; Two single-engine Eurocopter Squirrel helicopters, one twin-engine Eurocopter Squirrel, one twin-engine Kawasaki BK117 (rescue helicopter), one twin-engine Eurocopter EC135 helicopter and one single-engine Cessna 206 Stationair airplane.

Alachua County (FL) Sheriff's Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing

2011-12-19T22:17:01Z

Photo- Candace Copeland, Gainesville Fl. Alachua Sheriff's OH-58 helicopter.An Alachua Sheriff's helicopter made an emergency landing on Thursday December 8th while on routine patrol in Gainesville Florida. The helicopter crew, an Alachua Sheriff's pilot, and a Gainesville Police flight officer were in the process of checking a suspicious vehicle when the helicopter experienced mechanical difficulties. The pilot was forced to immediately put the helicopter on the ground. No one was injured during the incident but the helicopter did clip some trees as it settled to the ground near some movie theaters. What is not known at this time is if the helicopter suffered engine failure, and if the emergency landing was an actual auto-rotational landing. The Alachua County Sheriff's and Gainesville Police Joint Air Unit has two full time air crews and flies three military surplus OH-58 turbine engine helicopters on patrol. No injuries were reported.

Placer County Sheriff's Helicopter Crew Catches Night Time Base Jumper Off Foresthill Bridge

2011-12-15T17:23:41Z

Placer County Sheriff AS350B3 helicopter. Photo- American EurocopterA Placer County Sheriff's Helicopter crew responded to California's tallest bridge last week regarding a report of a suicidal female preparing to jump. What they found instead was a 39 year old base jumper Aaron McGovern preparing to parachute off the 730 foot high Foresthill Bridge (4th tallest in the U.S.) which spans the American River near Auburn California. McGovern made the jump but the Sheriff's helicopter crew was able to track the subject with their spotlight all the way to the bottom of the American River Canyon. Once on the ground McGovern attempted to elude the helicopter by hiding his parachute and fleeing down several trails. He was eventually taken into custody by ground units. Parachuting from the bridge is a misdemeanor crime. Base Jumping is considered one of the worlds most dangerous recreational activities. The Placer County Sheriff's Department flies an American Eurocopter AS350B3 helicopter on patrol

CHP Helicopter Lifts Suspect And Officers From Slough After Vehicle And Foot Pursuit

2011-12-15T16:49:36Z

A CHP helicopter was called in to assist officers near Eureka California Tuesday afternoon after a lengthy vehicle and foot pursuit left the suspect and two law enforcement officers stuck in a slough, far from any roads. It all started when a Eureka PD detective attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Jeep that had been driving erratically. It turns out the Jeep was stolen and the driver was a wanted parolee at large. The 28 year old parolee lead police on a 14 mile high speed chase traveling south bound on Highway 101. Just south of Table Bluff the suspect left the highway and drove onto the beach where officers in patrol cars could not follow. However, a warden with the California Department of Fish and Game had been monitoring the pursuit and was in the area. The warden picked up a CHP officer and they continued the pursuit in the warden's 4x4 vehicle. The vehicle pursuit soon turned into a foot pursuit through several small bodies of water in the area of Hawk Slough. The law officer duo eventually caught up to the suspect hiding under a log. A CHP helicopter from Redding California responded and lifted the men out one at a time. It was unclear what method the helicopter crew used, and how the suspect was secure prior to being lifted out. Many CHP helicopters are outfitted with external hoist for rescue operations.

UK Police Helicopter Crew Spots Body From The Air

2011-12-14T22:10:47Z

A Devon and Cornwall Police helicopter on routine patrol over the community of Ivybridge in Devon, spotted the body of a man near a set of railway tracks. The crew spotted the body around 4:00 PM on Saturday near the area of Langham Levels. There was no immediate indication as to the cause of death. British Transportation Police were called in to investigate since the body was found in close proximity to the rail lines.

Lorain County (OH) Deputy Shot; Cleveland Police Helicopter Locates Suspect With FLIR

2011-12-14T21:49:21Z

A Lorain County Ohio deputy sheriff was shot Monday night by a man who had just shot his own dog and cat and barricaded himself in his house in Lagrange Township. The 39 year old deputy had responded to the home along with his sergeant and 4 other deputies after the suspects mother placed a call to authorities. During the ensuing standoff the suspect exited the house and engaged deputies in an exchange of gunfire. The deputy was struck in an area near his left armpit, not covered by his ballistic vest. He was transported to a hospital where he was recently upgraded from critical to fair condition. The suspect fled the scene on foot kicking off a large scale manhunt as law officers from throughout the region flooded into the area. The Cleveland Police Helicopter responded and began conducting a FLIR search of the surrounding terrain. After about 20 minutes of searching the helicopter crew located the suspect in the middle of an open field off of state route 301, near the Harlan airfield. The 42 year old suspect committed suicide as a SWAT team approached to take him into custody.

LAPD Helicopter Makes Precautionary Landing At College

2011-12-14T21:34:16Z

An LAPD helicopter made a precautionary landing around 2:00 PM Monday afternoon, but the reasons for the landing were not immediately clear. The Bell Jet Ranger helicopter, often used by the LAPD for initial pilot training, set down on the Pierce College football field in Woodland Hills California. There were no injuries and not damage to the helicopter.