Officials eye unauthorized use of state helicopter at football game
Calif. investigates after YouTube video posted
A frame from the YouTube video showing the helicopter about to drop the football.
(Photo courtesy: YouTube)
Posted: 02/02/2013
Last Updated:
111 days ago
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - State officials are investigating the use of a Department of Justice helicopter at a high school homecoming football game in Northern California.
KCRA-TV reported Thursday that top officials at the DOJ did not know the helicopter -- usually flown for drug busts -- was being used to hover over the game in El Dorado Hills.
The incident was caught on video and uploaded to YouTube. The station says it showed a DOJ agent dropping a football from the helicopter to his son, a player, on the field.
The cost to taxpayers for use of the chopper was between $900 and $1,300 for the stunt, not including the cost of personnel used to fly the aircraft.
KCRA reported the DOJ was suspended for a lengthy period as a result of the stunt.
Larry Wallace, director of law enforcement for the DOJ, said he will now personally approve any authorized use of the helicopter.
YouTube Video of helicopter at football game:
Copyright 2013 Scripps Media, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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