A volunteer air support unit helped police track down two shoplifting suspects when patrol officers were unavailable Wednesday. Redlands (California) police spokesman Carl Baker said Air 10, which is a Cessna 172 airplane, was quickly over the scene at Redlands Citrus Plaza to help an arriving patrol car locate the suspects. Alfredo Sanchez Cedano, 43, and his son, Alfredo Sanchez, 20, were arrested after police stopped their car at gunpoint.
Police received a call at 5:48 PM Wednesday from Kohl’s, a department store in the Citrus Plaza on the 27000 block of West Lugonia Avenue. A loss prevention security officer was chasing one of the suspects across the parking lot. “No officers were available,” said Redlands police Chief Jim Bueermann. Three minutes after the Kohl’s call was made, Air 10 was on the scene, said Baker, adding, “They … heard the call from dispatch and responded.”
Baker said the store employee lost sight of the suspect, but the Air 10 unit arrived overhead and located the car, a white Acura two-door. A patrol car was arriving as Cedano got into the car. Police stopped the vehicle on Alabama Street near the onramp to Interstate 10 and arrested both men. Once the vehicle was searched, police located additional stolen property. “Without the plane, we would not have apprehended the suspects,” said Buerrmann. “It was instrumental in those two shoplifting arrests,” Baker added… Crime Voice
