PONTIAC, Mich. (WILX) – The Oakland County Sheriff\u2019s Office is crediting its \u201cDrones as First Responders\u201d (DFR) program for a man\u2019s arrest near a domestic violence shelter this week.<\/p>\n
The sheriff\u2019s office says a \u201cconcerning\u201d 911 call came in around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5. The caller reported a man wearing camouflage clothes and carrying both a long rifle and a handgun had entered the woods near a domestic violence shelter in Pontiac, according to the sheriff\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
The DFR program \u201cimmediately launched a drone to the area\u201d and drone operators quickly located the man and confirmed he was armed, the sheriff\u2019s office said. <\/p>\n
\u201cUsing real-time aerial intelligence, the drone team was able to guide responding deputies directly to the suspect\u2019s location and provide critical situational awareness, allowing deputies to approach in a tactically safe manner,\u201d a press release from the sheriff\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n
The suspect, a 21-year-old Joseph Edward Smith of Pontiac, was arrested without incident. He was arraigned Friday in Pontiac\u2019s 50th District Court on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm.<\/p>\n
The sheriff\u2019s office released the aerial footage, which shows Smith noticing the drone above him. He is seen taking a photo or video of the drone on his phone before unloading the weapons and throwing them in the grass before raising his hands as police approached him.<\/p>\n
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard called it \u201cone more poignant example of how our DFR program dramatically increases the safety and response to emergency incidents.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cThe ability to rapidly locate an armed individual, provide real-time intelligence to responding deputies, and help bring the situation to a peaceful conclusion protects both the public and our first responders,\u201d Bouchard said, per a press release.<\/p>\n
The Oakland County Sheriff\u2019s Office has operated its Drones as First Responders program for more than four years. The program is \u201cdesigned to respond to active emergency calls and provide real-time information that enhances public safety, improves response times, and helps reduce the likelihood of dangerous confrontations,\u201d according to the sheriff\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
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