Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) Team Deployments (First Quarter 2020)
First Quarter 2020 statistics for sUAS Team deployments by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office
01/17/2020 – Mission Type: Assisted the San Rafael Police Department search for a possible barricaded residential burglary suspect
Case: 20-175 (San Rafael PD Case SR20-463)
Offense: 459 PC - Burglary
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office was requested to assist the San Rafael Police Department with a search for a burglary suspect who was possibly barricaded inside a residence. The initial report also described shots possibly being fired. The sUAS team arrived and conducted one flight of the immediate area for the suspect. While conducting that flight, SRPD determined the suspect had fled the scene prior to law enforcement arriving on scene.
01/27/2020 – Mission Type: Assisted the Mill Valley Police Department search for a subject who was reported to be near Tamalpais High School with a rifle.
Case: 20-272
Offense: 422 PC – Threaten Crime to Terrorize
135 PC – Destroy/Conceal Evidence
417.4 PC – Draw/Exhibit Imitation Firearm
626.10(A) PC – Possess Weapon at School
20150(A) PC – Change Markings on Imitation Firearm
20170(A) PC – Display an Imitation Firearm in Public
148.3(A) PC – False Report of an Emergency
Mill Valley PD responded to a report of a white male, dressed in a black shirt, black pants, black ski mask and carrying an AK-47 that was seen near Tamalpais High School. The sUAS Team was requested to assist in checking Tamalpais High School for the possible suspect. During the course of the investigation, it was determined the person in question never entered school property and remained on Homestead Blvd., which is Sheriff's Office jurisdiction. The suspect was not located after an exhaustive search by all involved. Through the course of this investigation, a suspect was identified. He was contacted and admitted to being in the area and possessing a replica AK-47. This same subject was subsequently arrested and booked on the above listed charges.
02/03/2020 – Mission Type: Assisted the Marin County Sheriff’s Office search for a subject with several outstanding warrants who fled from deputies.
Case: 20-355
Offence: 148(A) PC – Resist/Obstruct Investigation
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office sUAS team was requested to assist with the search of a subject who ran from a deputy when the deputy attempted to contact him regarding outstanding warrants. One of the sUAS Team pilots was also on duty and responded to the scene to assist. Two flights were conducted in an attempt to locate the suspect in coordination with perimeter units. Unfortunately, the subject was not located.
02/05/2020 –Mission Type: Assisted the Mill Valley Police Department search for a subject who caused several traffic collisions while fleeing after a theft occurred.
Case: 20-374 (MVPD Case MV20-102)
Offense: 10851 CVC – Taking Vehicle w/o Owner’s Consent
182 PC – Conspiracy
2800.2 VC – Evade Peace Officer
496 PC – Receive Stolen Property
488 PC – Petty Theft
20002(A) CVC – Hit/Run with Property Damage
12500 CVC – Driving w/o License
23152(F) CVC – Driving Under the Influence Drugs/Alcohol
11377 HS – Possess Controlled Substance
11364 HS – Possess Controlled Substance Paraphernalia
The Mill Valley Police Department requested assistance from the MCSO sUAS Team to assist with the search for a subject who fled from officers after a theft occurred in their city. An on-duty sUAS Team pilot responded to assist. The pilot was able to assist searching the area and provide personnel at the command post an aerial vantage point as the subject was taken into custody in a nearby shed.
02/16/2020 to 02/22/2020– Mission Type: Assisted MCSO Search and Rescue Team search for an elderly couple that went missing from a residence in Inverness.
Case: 20-521
Offense: None
The Marin County Sheriff’s Office sUAS Team was requested to assist with a lengthy search for an elderly couple who were reported missing on 02/16/2020. The search was conducted by several hundred Search and Rescue personnel from several allied agencies, as well as other law enforcement personnel from Marin County. During this operation the sUAS Team conducted approximately 28 flights over water and dense vegetation looking for the missing couple. The couple was safely located by ground SAR personnel in a heavily covered drainage ditch approximately eight days after they walked away from the short term rental property they were staying in.
02/18/2020 – Mission Type: Assisted MCSO deputies along with SAR personnel search for a missing subject in the Marinwood area.
Case: SO20-534
A subject was reported missing by his family on 02/17/2020. A relative contacted law enforcement on 02/18/2020 and provided a possible location for the subject that was obtained via a cellphone tracking program. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office sUAS Team assisted in the search by flying the nearby wooded area in an effort to locate the missing person. The missing subject was safely located by SAR personnel a short time later off a trail.
03/02/2020 – Mission Type: Assisted MCSO personnel search for a missing suicidal subject in the area of Tennessee Valley Road.
Case: SO20-614
A suicidal subject was reported missing on 02/27/2020 by a friend. The missing subject’s vehicle was located on 03/02/2020 on Tennessee Valley Road, Tam Valley. Due to the rugged terrain, the sUAS Team was requested to assist with the search of the surrounding area. The subject was eventually located deceased by SAR personnel on 03/03/2020.
03/05/2020 – Mission Type: Assisted the Tiburon Police Department search for a burglary suspect.
Case: 20-696 (Tiburon Case: TP20-0077)
Offense: 459 PC - Burglary
The Tiburon Police Department requested the assistance of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office sUAS Team to search the perimeter area of a residence in Tiburon after a residential burglary occurred. Based on information at the time, TPD believed the suspect to still be in the residence. Members of the sUAS Team responded to the area and conducted a systematic search of the exterior of the residence and the surrounding perimeter. The sUAS team also provided overwatch of the residence as the Tiburon Police Department conducted an interior search for the subject(s). It was later determined the suspect fled the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival.
03/17/2020 – Mission Type: Assisted Novato Fire Department with aerial footage of open space area as part of NPD’s seasonal fire mitigation efforts.
Case: 20-811
The Novato Fire Department requested assistance from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office sUAS Team with documenting open space in the area of Bahia Drive and Topaz Drive in Novato. The purpose of these flights was to document the volume of the trees and shrubs in the area prior to fire prevention efforts by NFD.