Petaluma Man Flying Drone Over Airport Grounds Firefighting Helicopters: Police

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A man allegedly flying a drone Sunday over the Petaluma Municipal Airport caused helicopters being used to help fight the wildfires in Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties to cease operations for about 10 minutes, a Petaluma police lieutenant said in a news release.

Lt. Ron Klein said Petaluma Police Department dispatch was notified at 2:36 p.m. Sunday that someone was flying a drone over the airport.

"Cal Fire reported they believed the person flying the drone was at the East Washington Fields east of the airport," Klein said. "When officers arrived Cal Fire Employees had located the subject responsible for flying the drone. He was identified as Nestor Rodriguez, a 24-year-old male from Petaluma. When questioned about the drone he stated he did not realize it was illegal."

Rodriguez stopped operating the drone and was issued a citation to appear for impeding emergency personnel, the lieutenant continued.

"The helicopters being flown from Petaluma have been integral in the fighting of fires in the Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties," Klein said. "The drone was not only potentially perilous for the helicopters landing at and leaving the airport, it also held up the operation endangering lives and further fire damage to an already fire ravaged area."

Petaluma police have notified the Federal Aviation Administration, which will be conducting an investigation into the matter, the lieutenant said.

Photo: The Petaluma Municipal Airport is being used a base for helicopters battling wildfires in Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties, Oct. 15, 2017. (Photo contributed by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com)