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Sheriff's sergeant describes Dunsmuir-area search that located abducted child, cites drone use
Summary
A sheriff's sergeant told the council the county's deputies assisted in locating an abducted child Feb. 19, 2025, describing multiagency coordination, cell-phone pings, Airbnb checks and the use of thermal drone technology to locate the suspect and place the child into protective custody.
A sergeant with the county sheriff's office told the Dunsmuir City Council on March 5 that deputies assisted the San Juan County Sheriff's Office on Feb. 19, 2025, in locating a child reported abducted by a noncustodial parent.
The sergeant described multiagency coordination among the county sheriff's office, Mount Shasta Police Department, Weed Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. Deputies used cell-phone ping data to narrow a search area in North Dunsmuir, canvassed hotels and Airbnbs, and at one point used a thermal drone to monitor a target area. The sergeant said deputies eventually made a traffic stop, arrested the suspect on an outstanding warrant from Washington, and placed the child in protective custody with child-protective services.
"So it's a good tool to catch suspects and victims too," the sergeant said, describing the drone's role in searches for missing or vulnerable people. The council applauded the multiagency coordination and the deputies' work. The sergeant also noted the sheriff's office has several units equipped with advanced visual capabilities for night operations.
The presentation was informational; no council action was taken on the matter during the meeting.
