A drone already flying over Snohomish County was diverted to a priority assault call and quickly found the vehicle deputies were looking for, beginning an aerial track that ended with a suspect running across traffic and being taken into custody.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office released video of the Sept. 18 response, showing how its Drone as First Responder program was used while deputies were still en route to the call.
The drone pilot obtained the suspected vehicle’s license plate from the air and followed the blue Toyota Corolla to a Walgreens near 4th Avenue and 112th Street.
When deputies arrived, however, the encounter moved quickly from the parking lot to a foot chase.
Eyes Overhead
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The sheriff’s office said dispatch received the assault call at approximately 7:15 p.m. The agency’s Drone as First Responder aircraft was already assisting with another call when its pilot redirected it.
The drone located the Corolla believed to be connected to the assault, captured the plate and stayed above the vehicle as it traveled to the Walgreens.
That gave responding deputies a continuous view of where the vehicle was going before they reached it on the ground.
Parking Lot Turn
The driver got out after arriving at the store and began walking toward the entrance, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies contacted him as they pulled into the parking lot. The man then moved back toward the Corolla and reached the driver’s seat.
Deputies attempted to take him into custody, but he got away and ran.
The video shows the pursuit continuing beyond the parking lot as the drone remains overhead.
Across The Street
The suspect ran across traffic on 112th Street and entered a neighboring property.
Deputies followed on foot and coordinated around a building while the drone continued providing an aerial view.
They ultimately caught the man and took him into custody.
The arrest came only days after the sheriff’s office began testing its new Drone as First Responder system. Recent coverage of the pilot says the program places remotely operated drones in positions where they can launch rapidly for calls including crimes in progress, fleeing suspects, missing people, crashes and other developing emergencies.
The sheriff’s office said the Sept. 18 call demonstrated the type of response the program was intended to provide: getting information to deputies before they arrive and maintaining visual contact with a fleeing suspect from above.