A man who allegedly shot at a police helicopter over Rolando and made a threatening phone call to the San Diego Police Department was arrested, authorities reported Friday.
Just before 3:30 p.m. Thursday, the suspect, who lived in the 6100 block of Tarragona Drive, called police and said he was planning to grab a gun and start shooting people because his boat and car were towed without warning, according to the department.
About 20 minutes later, police received another call from a neighbor of the suspect, who said they heard multiple gunshots near the suspect’s address.
The SDPD sent a helicopter occupied by a pilot and two tactical flight officers to the scene. As the helicopter circled, the suspect took a shotgun and fired on shot in the direction of the helicopter that missed.
After firing the errant shot, the man quickly went back inside his home but later surrendered to officers surrounding the residence, according to police.
The suspect, later identified as Richard Favorite, 49, was booked into San Diego County Jail on suspicion of the attempted murder of the helicopter crew, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an occupied aircraft and negligent discharge of a firearm, according to the SDPD.
After the arrest, a shotgun and fired shotgun shells were discovered in the yard. Police said Favorite is also suspected of making the threatening phone call to police prior to the ordeal.
SDPD detectives were interviewing witnesses, gathering evidence and investigating the crime.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call the Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
City News Service contributed to this article.