Pilot flying Tommy Lee is detained
A pilot ferrying rocker Tommy Lee in a helicopter was detained -- and later released -- by Los Angeles police after they said he interfered with one of their airships Sunday morning in Northeast Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Police were assisting firefighters around 10:15 a.m. Sunday when a helicopter flew under them at tree-top level, said LAPD spokeswoman Karen Smith.
"It obviously caused them great concern," said Smith, adding that the pilot of the errant helicopter failed to heed instructions from the Van Nuys tower.
The LAPD air unit caught up with the pilot at Van Nuys Airport and after questioning him, detained him on suspicion of flying under the influence. Smith said the pilot was later released because of a lack of evidence. Lee, who gained fame as the drummer for the rock band Motley Crue, was a passenger in the helicopter.
--Andrew Blankstein
