A California man accused of forcing his girlfriend into a truck and threatening her didn’t get far before technology gave police a view from above. The Alhambra Police Department says its drone located the vehicle while officers were still responding to the domestic violence call.
Police eventually stopped the truck and safely located the woman inside, but the encounter wasn’t quite finished. The department says the suspect, identified as Andrew Ferriera of El Monte, pulled over before deciding to abandon the vehicle and run into a nearby backyard.
Officers initially responded after receiving a report that a man was forcing his girlfriend into his truck. Before police could arrive, the department says the suspect drove away with the woman still inside and threatened her.
A police drone was deployed during the response and located the truck around Hidalgo Avenue and Grand Avenue. Officers were then able to catch up with the vehicle and initiate a traffic stop.
Police Drone Keeps Eyes on Suspect During Domestic Violence Call
The Facebook reel could not be embedded into the article, so you can check out the link here. Ferriera initially stopped for officers, according to police, but then fled the vehicle and entered a nearby backyard. His girlfriend remained inside the passenger seat of the truck, where officers found her safe.
Police ultimately took Ferriera into custody. He was arrested on accusations of kidnapping, making criminal threats, and obstructing officers.
The department highlighted its drone’s role in finding the vehicle, particularly given how quickly the situation developed before officers could reach the original scene. In this case, police say the technology allowed them to locate the truck while the victim was still inside and guide responding officers toward it.
The department also used its post to remind people experiencing domestic violence that resources are available. The underlying incident may have ended with an arrest, but police made clear that ensuring the victim had access to help afterward was another important part of the response.
Comments Praise Police Drone for Helping Find Kidnapping Suspect
The drone quickly became one of the biggest talking points in the comments, with one person joking that it was “doing the job of the whole department.” Another praised the technology and officers for successfully tracking down a suspect they described as making the less-than-brilliant decision to run.
Others were much more focused on the woman and what happens after the arrest. “Hoping she stays safe and well away from him,” one commenter wrote, while another thanked officers “for saving this young woman from her abuser.”
Not everyone was comfortable with the department’s use of drones, however, with one commenter raising broader surveillance and security concerns about the technology. Still, most of the responses provided were supportive of the arrest, with commenters seemingly relieved that the woman was found safe and Ferriera was taken into custody.