Photo: the sUAS (drones)
As reported by TheMarin County Sheriff’s Office via their Official Facebook Page –
“Fourth Quarter 2019 statistics for the Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) Team deployments by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office –
10/02/2019 – Mission Type: Assisted the Novato Police Department search for a suspect who ran from a vehicle during a traffic stop
Case: 19-2944 (Novato Police Case NP19-4936)
Offense: 2800.4 CVC – Evading Police and Driving Wrong Way
148(a)(1) PC – Resisting or Delaying Investigation
14601(a) CVC – Driving with a Suspended License
23152(b) CVC – DUI with Blood Alcohol Content over .08%
23103(a) CVC – Reckless Driving
23223(a) CVC – Open Container in Vehicle
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office was requested to assist the Novato Police Department search for a subject who ran from a vehicle they had been attempting to stop for traffic related violations. One of the Deputies that responded was a sUAS Pilot and had a UAV with him. At the request of Novato Police Department, a UAV with thermal imaging was deployed and used to search the area for the suspect who ran from the vehicle. The Deputy searched the majority of the area, with one area unable to be accessed by the UAV. The Deputy reported this information to Officers on the perimeter. The Officers then checked the area the UAV was unable to access and located the suspect. They subsequently took him into custody for the above related charges.
11/06/2019 – Mission Type: Assisted the California Highway Patrol search for a Hit and Run suspect who ran from the suspect vehicle to avoid apprehension
Case: 19-3333 Offense: 20001 (a) CVC – Hit and Run with injuries
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office sUAS team was requested to assist the California Highway Patrol in the search of a subject who caused an accident with injuries and fled from the scene on foot. A Deputy, who is also one of our sUAS pilots, was working and had a UAV equipped with thermal imaging in his patrol vehicle. The Deputy responded to the scene and searched the area with the UAV for the subject who fled. Unfortunately, the subject was not located.
12/12/2019 –Mission Type: Assisted the Central Marin Police Authority with a search for a missing/suicidal subject at risk.
Case: 19-3659 Offense: None
The Central Marin Police Authority requested assistance from the Sheriff’s Office sUAS Team to search for a subject who was reported to be missing and possibly suicidal. The sUAS Team obtained relevant information from CMPA’s Incident Commander related to the missing person’s last known location. The sUAS Team proceeded to conduct a systematic search of the requested area for the missing person. The search was unable to locate the missing person in the area they were last seen. The missing person was ultimately found deceased in a different location at a later date.
12/18/2019 – Mission Type: Assisted the US Park Police with a barricaded suicidal subject armed with a firearm in a vehicle
Case: 19-3732 Offense: None
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office sUAS Team was requested to assist US Park Police with a reported barricaded suicidal subject in a vehicle armed with a gun. US Park Police had located the suicidal subject’s vehicle. Because the subject was reported to be armed with a firearm, Officers established a perimeter around the vehicle, but did not approach for their safety. From their vantage point, the Officers could see a subject sitting in the driver seat. The driver did not respond to verbal commands from the Officers on-scene. The sUAS Team deployed a UAV and was able to obtain visual confirmation that the subject had suffered a gunshot wound and was unresponsive inside the vehicle. Additional personnel on scene were able to confirm the subject was deceased.
12/23/2019 –Mission Type: Assisted the Novato Police Department and Marin County Search and Rescue with search for missing person at risk.
Case: 19-3785 Offense: None
The Novato Police Department requested the assistance of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team and sUAS Team in the search for a missing person at risk. Deputies from the sUAS Team responded to the area and conducted a systematic search in coordination with the Search and Rescue Team. The sUAS Team covered a large area using multiple UAV’s and the missing person was ultimately found alive by Search and Rescue personnel in another search zone.”
