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Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) Team Deployments (Second Quarter 2020)

Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) Team Deployments (Second Quarter 2020)

Second Quarter 2020 statistics for sUAS Team deployments by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office

05/07/2020 – Mission Type: Assisted the San Rafael Police Department Search for an Arson Suspect.

Case: 20-1138 (San Rafael PD Case SR20-03152)

Offense: 451 PC - Arson

 The Marin County Sheriff’s Office was requested to assist the San Rafael Police Department search for an arson suspect. The suspect lit multiple fires in the Canal Area of San Rafael and then fled the area. The suspect was last seen near a large open field in San Rafael. The sUAS team deployed two UAVs and covered a large amount of area and determined the suspect was no longer in the area. The suspect was later located in another jurisdiction and arrested.    

05/12/2020 – Mission Type: Assisted the California Highway Patrol Search for a Suspect who Fled From a Stolen Vehicle.  

Case: 20-1175

Offense: 10851 PC – Stolen Vehicle

 A California Highway Patrol Officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle. Upon checking the vehicle's registration status, the vehicle returned as stolen. During the traffic stop, one of the occupants ran from the vehicle across the freeway. The suspect ran to a heavily wooded area near a residential neighborhood. The sUAS team was requested to search the large wooded area where the suspect was last seen running. While the sUAS team was searching for the suspect, the suspect was located in a separate area by Officers and arrested.

05/13/2020 – Mission Type: Assisted the United States Park Police on a Subject with a Gun Call.

Case: 20-1185 (USPP Case #051320-18)

Offense: N/A

The Marin County Sheriff’s Office sUAS team was requested by the United States Park Police (USPP) to assist with a subject with a gun call under the Golden Gate Bridge. USPP could see a subject with a gun in a seated position under the bridge and not moving. The sUAS team deployed a UAV and was able determine the subject appeared deceased from a possible self-inflicted gunshot wound.

06/08/2020 –Mission Type: Assisted Novato Police Department with a Fatal Traffic Collision.

Case: 20-1385 (NPD Case #NP20-1696)

Offense: N/A

The Novato Police Department requested the assistance of the sUAS team with a fatal traffic collision that occurred in their jurisdiction. The sUAS team deployed a UAV and was able to document the scene from an aerial vantage point for NPD. In addition, we utilized a UAV to recreate the likely path of travel of the vehicle involved in the collision.

 06/13/2020– Mission Type: Assist the Central Marin Police Authority with an Arson Case That Involved Several fires.

 Case: 20-1438

Offense: 451 PC - Arson

 The Marin County Sheriff’s Office sUAS Team was requested to assist with four separate fires that were lit by an arson suspect. Prior to our arrival, the suspect was located by Officers. The sUAS team was requested to photograph and video all of the burn areas. In addition, we utilized our thermal imaging capabilities and were able to assist the fire department locate possible “hot spots” not visible from the ground and inform the fire crews on scene.

 06/16/2020 – Mission Type: Assist Marin County Sheriff’s Office and Search and Rescue for a Missing Teen.

 Case: SO20-1462

Offense: N/A

The Marin County Sheriff’s Office was searching for a missing teen that was last seen in the early hours of the morning in Tam Valley. The teen was reportedly not dressed for the weather and possibly in an altered state of consciousness. The sUAS team was deployed to search a few different areas around the area where she was last seen. The teen was later located inside a garage, asleep, near the area she went missing.  

06/16/2020 – Mission Type: Assist Marin County Search and Rescue for a Missing Subject.

Case: SO20-908

Offense: N/A

 The Marin County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team requested the sUAS team’s assistance in the search for a missing subject. The sUAS team was requested to search a large area of vegetation and roadways near the area where the subject went missing. This is the sixth search for this subject and he has not been located. 

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