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Prineville interim chief shows drone footage of out-of-county pursuit that ended in arrest
Summary
Interim Chief Shane Wilson showed drone footage of a Jan. 7 pursuit that ended near Prineville; police used a certified drone pilot to locate and illuminate a fleeing suspect, resulting in an arrest with no injuries and recovery of two loaded firearms.
Interim Chief Shane Wilson told council the departmental drone program helped officers locate and safely detain a suspect on Jan. 7 following a pursuit by Jefferson County deputies. "On January 7, just last week at about, 10:56PM, Jefferson County sheriff's deputies were in pursuit of a vehicle... reaching speeds of up to a 130 miles an hour," Wilson said, describing how a Prineville sergeant deployed a drone that located the subject in juniper near Lone Pine Road and helped guide units to a safe arrest.
Wilson said the drone's floodlight and zoom capability allowed the operator to identify that the subject held a phone, direct him to drop it and then confirm that officers could approach without using force. "No force and no injuries were sustained," Wilson said. He added two loaded firearms and drug paraphernalia were recovered at the scene. The chief positioned the case as an example of interagency cooperation and the operational value of aerial surveillance in keeping officers and the public safe.
