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Paraglider prompts strange LA sky chase after jail flyover

Associated Press
Alain Arnoux flying a motorized paraglider over the Badain Jaran dune field in a photograph from "Desert Air" by George Steinmetz. A man flying a motorized paraglider says the wind blew him over a Los Angeles-area jail, resulting in a chase that was unusual even by LA standards.
Alain Arnoux flying a motorized paraglider over the Badain Jaran dune field in a photograph from "Desert Air" by George Steinmetz. A man flying a motorized paraglider says the wind blew him over a Los Angeles-area jail, resulting in a chase that was unusual even by LA standards. George Steinmetz MCT
CASTAIC, Calif.

A midair traffic stop? Almost, as a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s helicopter pursued a powered paraglider that had just flown past a jail, raising concern.

A KABC-TV helicopter captured the brief chase that took place when the man in the paraglider flew near Los Angeles County’s Pitchess Detention Center Monday.

Jail deputies saw the fly-by and a sheriff’s helicopter began following him. He at first didn’t obey orders to stop, but landed a few minutes later near a paintball playing field

A sheriff’s statement says the 67-year-old was very apologetic and said he hadn’t heard them because of the motorized fan at his back. He said the winds took him near the jail.

Authorities say they’re still investigating, but the man had no contraband, was not spotted dropping anything and was not arrested or cited.

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 2:17 AM with the headline "Paraglider prompts strange LA sky chase after jail flyover."

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