A drone helped sheriff’s deputies in California’s San Diego County track down a man who allegedly started a fire that threatened homes. Miguel Hernandez, 35, is accused of using a lighter to set a palm tree on fire in the Spring Valley area last month, forcing nearby residents to evacuate, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.

Drone Footage Leads to Arrest

In a social media post, the sheriff’s office said its Unmanned Aerial Systems team’s drone allegedly spotted Hernandez in a riverbed and tracked his movements, relaying his location to a police helicopter. Hernandez was later arrested near a highway interchange.

The sheriff’s office said its drone program was launched in 2016. It now has more than 60 certified pilots and more than 70 aircraft that support a range of operations, including searches, rescues, and crime scene investigations.

Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.