Sheriff's aerial cameras uncover hidden Legacy Park encampment Play

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has taken advantage of a new court ruling that allows it to patrol areas using overhead flying cameras.

One of the first actions was to discover a homeless encampment hidden in the landscaping at Malibu Legacy Park, in the heart of the city.

The encampment was a mess, but it was hidden by the wild landscaping that people insisted on being planted and watered to make the legacy park look like — well — what it looks like now.

The encampment included cooking equipment that could easily have sparked a fire, as has happened dozens of times in other thickets up in the canyons. But this one was in the heart of the city, not visible from any pathway or street.

There was also a nearby arrest, according to Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Soderlund. A homeless man was arrested last week after getting into a fight next to his van on Malibu Road. The suspect swung a five-foot metal rebar at the other man. Six dogs were inside the van in terrible conditions.

"Two homeless individuals were on Malibu Road where the grocery giveaway that they do weekly happens. And they got into a verbal argument," Soderlund said. "The suspect, who is from this van, he decided to arm himself with a 5-foot piece of metal rebar and swinging it at the other victim. Fortunately, he missed."

"But deputies responded and located him and arrested him for assault with a deadly weapon. And inside that van was six dogs, and one dog had just given birth about a week ago. Fortunately, we were able to get in control there and rescue those puppies and the other dogs."

The dogs are at the animal shelter, and the sheriff's deputy says the puppies will be put up for adoption.