There are plenty of reasons you might notice a sheriff’s helicopter circling overhead late at night. Sometimes it’s a missing person, sometimes it’s a search for a suspect, and sometimes it’s because deputies have already found exactly who they’re looking for and are ready to close in.
Residents in Rolling Hills Estates recently found themselves asking that exact question after hearing an Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department airship overhead. As it turns out, deputies were tracking suspects connected to both a violent carjacking and a residential burglary.
According to the Lomita Sheriff’s Station, the investigation began after deputies received an alert from an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) system. The technology flagged a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 that had reportedly been stolen during a violent carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon in Hawthorne on July 11.
What started as a simple license plate notification quickly escalated into a high-risk traffic stop, a foot pursuit, and a helicopter-assisted search that ended with two arrests.
One Suspect Ran, but the Helicopter Didn’t Let Him Get Far
Deputies received the ALPR alert at around 9:30 pm after the stolen Mercedes was detected traveling through Rolling Hills Estates. While responding, investigators also learned the same vehicle had was connected to a residential burglary that had just occurred a little over a week before in neighboring Torrance.
The deputies soon located the Mercedes near Palos Verdes Drive North and Rolling Vista Drive, where they initiated a high-risk traffic stop. As the vehicle came to a stop, one of the occupants immediately jumped out and ran, prompting deputies to establish a containment while the LASD helicopter searched from above and was quickly found.
The suspects were discovered to be 26-year-old Yareht Nino Pedraza and 21-year-old Alan Pena Sabogn of Bogotá, Colombia. The former was arrested on suspicion of felony taking or driving a stolen vehicle, and the latter was booked on failing to obey a lawful order, delaying or resisting a peace officer, providing false identification, and an outstanding no-bail burglary warrant out of Colorado.
Commenters Say This Is Exactly Why License Plate Readers Matter
The comments quickly shifted away from the helicopter and focused almost entirely on the license plate reader technology that first alerted deputies to the stolen Mercedes. Many pointed out that ALPR systems often receive criticism over privacy concerns, but argued this case showed exactly why they believe the cameras are valuable.
One commenter wrote, “Y’all hate flock. But love it when it captures criminals,” while another added, “Great technology and a job well done.” Several others questioned why some California communities have discussed removing ALPR systems, with one person commenting, “Only criminals would support this.”
Others praised the deputies involved, flooding the post with messages like “Fantastic job!”, “Tax dollars well spent, keeping criminals off the streets,” and “Thank you Lomita Sheriffs, great work!” At the same time, a few commenters wondered whether the suspects would remain behind bars, with one writing, “Let’s hope they actually serve a consequence,” while another simply asked, “Are they still in jail?”