San Diego County deputy arrested for driving vehicle through gate of military base, officials say

A San Diego County Sheriff’s deputy has been arrested on suspicion of driving below the affect after he drove by way of the primary gate of a navy base Friday night time with out stopping, the sheriff’s division mentioned. The incident occurred at Naval Base Coronado. 

Sgt. Michael Cruz, who has been working for the sheriff’s division since 2006, was off-duty on the time of the incident, the sheriff’s division reported in a information launch.

Cruz has been positioned on administrative depart, the sheriff’s division mentioned, whereas the Coronado Police Division and the Naval Felony Investigative Service examine the incident.     

Naval Base Coronado was placed on lockdown Friday night time after the car went by way of the power’s essential gate with out stopping, a navy spokesperson mentioned.

Naval Base Coronado spokesperson Kevin Dixon instructed KNSD-TV that the motive force was taken into custody by base guards after the “gate runner” drove with out stopping by way of the doorway of Naval Air Station North Island, a part of Naval Base Coronado.

A number of patrol vehicles surrounded the doorway close to third Avenue and Alameda Boulevard in Coronado round 10:30 p.m., KNSD-TV reported.

A number of gates on the air station close to San Diego had been closed whereas safety personnel checked the power, Dixon mentioned.

A publish on the Fb web page of Naval Base Coronado early Saturday morning mentioned, “The principle gate at Naval Air Station North Island is at the moment closed because of a safety incident. Please keep away from the primary gate whereas safety conducts its investigation.”

Later that morning, one other Fb publish learn, “Gate 2 (Service Gate) is now open for inbound and outbound car site visitors. The outbound essential gate at 4th Avenue is open to car and pedestrian site visitors. The principle gate inbound stays closed because of safety exercise.”

Naval Air Station North Island is one in all eight U.S. navy installations that make up Naval Base Coronado.

In February 2022, a motorist was discovered with bomb-making supplies on the similar gate on the bottom. The supplies weren’t assembled into a tool and the motive force was detained for questioning, the bottom mentioned on the time.