Deputies said officials were concerned the man may have dropped contraband into the prison yard.
"We have several open compounds, so there was concern that somebody might be dropping contraband or there could be some crazy escape attempt. It was really hard to say," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Brian Allen told KABC-TV.
A slow-speed aerial chase ensued until Nagin landed at Tapia Canyon Paintball Center about 6:05 p.m.
Nagin told deputies he had been carried toward the prison by the wind and he did not immediately respond to the helicopter crew's instructions to land because his loud motor drowned out the sound of the chopper's PA system and sirens.
"At first I thought they were just looky-loos, just trying to investigate the sport, but I figured when they cut in front of me twice, I'd better turn around and land," Nagin said.
The sheriff's department said Nagin was released without a citation.
"Deputies watched and did not see the pilot drop anything from the motorized hangglider," the department said in a statement.
LA Sheriff Helicopter Follows Motorized Paraglider Flying Near Jail Access Roads in Castaic, Ordered Him to Land **VIDEO FILMED FROM LASD HELICOPTER**A motorized hangglider was spotted by Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s deputies flying southbound over the 5 freeway and what initially appeared to be over a jail in Castaic Monday at about 5:30PM. Deputies radioed to a sheriff’s helicopter crew who soon began following the aircraft. Patrol deputies, jail deputies and the sheriff’s patrol airship monitored and followed the glider as it traversed through the air space by the Peter J. Pitches Detention Center in Castaic. The aircraft’s unusual proximity to the jail and possible intentions of the pilot necessitated investigation.The Sheriff’s Air 29 helicopter crew used their siren and public address system to order the pilot to land, and after over ten minutes he landed near the Tapia Canyon Paintball Center in Castaic. The sheriff’s helicopter crew landed, got out of their helicopter, and detained the man pending the arrival of patrol deputies. Jail deputies reported they had watched the flight of the pilot closely and saw he did not fly directly over the jails, but he flew directly over nearby jail access roads. Deputies watched and did not see the pilot drop anything from the motorized paraglider. Deputies detained and identified the pilot, who is a 67-year old male resident of Northridge. He apologized repeatedly and said he was flying in the area and winds blew him to the area near the jail facility. He did not have any contraband. He was released at the scene and was not arrested. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. ABC-7 TV News filmed the incident from their helicopter: http://abc7.com/news/man-flying-motorized-glider-may-have-dropped-contraband-over-castaic-prison/919754/ The sheriff’s flight observer filmed 15 seconds of the incident as seen from the LASD helicopter flight crew’s perspective. Click on link :**About the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center: PDC includes three Los Angeles County Jail Facilities and is named after former Sheriff of Los Angeles County, Peter J. Pitchess. The Detention Center is located in Castaic, in the Santa Clarita Valley, in Northern Los Angeles County, just off the 5 freeway, and is 2,620 acres. It used to be known as the Wayside Honor Rancho, and some people still refer to it by that name.Sheriff’s Information Bureau – NewsroomLos Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Hall of Justice - First floor 211 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012213-229-1700Website LASD HQ: http://www.lasd.orgRecruitment LASD: http://www.careers.lasd.org Follow LASD HQ via Text and Email: http://www.Nixle.comhttps://nixle.com/lasd---los-angeles-county-sheriffs-dept-information-bureau-sib/ Twitter: @LASDHQ http://twitter.com/LASDHQTwitter: @LASDtalk https://twitter.com/LASDTalkTwitter: @LASDvideos https://twitter.com/LASDvideosTwitter: @LASDespanol https://twitter.com/LASDespanolFacebook LASD HQ http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartmentInstagram LASD Photos: http://instagram.com/LASDHQ Pinterest LASD Photos : http://pinterest.com/lacountysheriff/YouTube LASD Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/LACountySheriff/videos?view=0SNAP LA County: Specific Needs Disaster Voluntary Registryhttp://snap.lacounty.gov/Alert LA County: Telephone emergency mass notification systemhttp://www.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/alertlaText & Email, Register for LASD Nixle messages: To receive more detailed, up-to-date information via E-MAIL and/or TEXT directly from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), sign up for "Nixle" alerts at http://www.Nixle.com and register for "LASD – Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept Information Bureau (SIB)" AND your local LASD station area. Or, to receive URGENT TEXT ALERTS ONLY, text your zip code to 888777. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan."If You See Something, Say Something"LA Crime Stoppers: Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.orgJim McDonnell, SheriffLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department #LASD #SCV #LACounty
Posted by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on Monday, August 10, 2015Advertisement
