El Cajon Police Drones Aid La Mesa Fire, Find Theft Suspect

EL CAJON, CA — A police drone assisted firefighters battling a commercial blaze in La Mesa, while a second drone helped officers find a theft suspect in El Cajon, authorities said Tuesday.

Heartland Fire & Rescue crews responded to a commercial building fire shortly after 3 p.m. Monday at 8800 Grossmont Blvd., where construction materials caught fire on the rooftop, according to the El Cajon Police Department.

As part of the department's Drone as First Responder Program, one drone was deployed to provide real-time aerial visuals of the fire's location and spread.

"This aerial perspective played a key role in supporting strategic firefighting efforts," the department said in a statement.

While the fire response was underway, officers received a report of a theft around 3:50 p.m. at the Vans store at 882 N. Second St. in El Cajon. A second police drone found the suspect and guided officers on the ground to him. He was detained without incident, police said.

The man, who was wearing the stolen shoes and identified by store employees, was found to have multiple prior theft convictions that qualified him for booking under repeat-offender provisions, according to police.

"These two incidents underscore the tremendous value of the El Cajon Police Department's drone program in enhancing public safety," the department said. "Whether aiding in the swift apprehension of criminals or supporting firefighting operations, drone technology continues to prove its effectiveness in protecting the community and assisting first responders."