Stargazers in Santa Fe took to social media Friday night to wonder about a New Mexico State Police helicopter that spent several hours circling the city.

The helicopter crew helped officers on the ground track and arrest at least three motorcyclists who had fled police in the Cerrillos Road and St. Francis Drive areas, court records filed by state police indicate.

The helicopter could be seen flying in circles around Santa Fe for several hours late into the night on Friday. Agency spokesperson Officer Wilson Silver confirmed the helicopter was "assisting in a proactive patrol operation."

A flight tracker website showed the flight path wound in circles around Cerrillos Road, St. Michael's Drive and downtown Santa Fe, with several stops at Santa Fe Regional Airport. The helicopter landed

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