Peninsula Drone Operator Impedes, Delays Cliffside Rescue Efforts: Police

PACIFICA, CA – A Pacifica man was arrested over the weekend when he was caught flying a drone near the scene of a cliffside rescue operation in town, police said Monday.

According to police, it all started around 10:15 p.m. Friday, when first responders from the North County

Fire Authority and the Pacifica Police Department were called out to Esplanade Avenue to assist someone who had apparently fallen off the cliff in the area.

"Rescue personnel on scene decided to have a helicopter from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) respond to conduct a long-line rescue of the subject," police said in a news release.

A medic was lowered to the beach, who then worked to assist the person who had fallen, police said. The medic was prepping for a long-line rescue with the helicopter overhead, when a drone was soon spotted.

"Shortly after the helicopter’s arrival, responders noticed a drone hovering near the scene," police said. "The drone moved around the area, often coming close to the area of the helicopter."

According to police, the helicopter crew immediately suspended the rescue operation and gained altitude to avoid a collision with the drone.

Pacifica police were able to locate the drone's operator, 55-year-old Gerald Destremps, and arrested him on suspicion of impending first-responders at the scene of an emergency.

After the drone was removed from the scene, the helicopter was able to return and illuminate the area for a ground rescue by North County Fire Authority firefighters.

Police said the person who fell over the cliff had illegally entered an apartment building on Esplanade Avenue and accidentally fell off of a balcony. The apartments, which were set to be demolished Monday, had been deemed uninhabitable by city officials because of the risk of their collapse into the ocean from erosion.

Police said the person was taken to a hospital with moderate injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits any person from operating an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

According to police, the FAA has expressed serious concern over the use of unauthorized drones interfering with rescue operations.

In July 2015, an unauthorized drone impeded firefighting efforts at the baseball fields off of Cindy Way in Sharp Park, police said.

For more information regarding definitions and regulations of drones, people can go to http://www.faa.gov/.

– Bay City News Service contributed to this report / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone