CRESTVIEW, Fla. – The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has used an infrared drone to assist the Crestview Police Department in finding and arresting an armed individual reportedly hiding inside a local bar.
According to a press release by the OCSO, the Crestview Police Department received a call of an armed man inside a bar at 172 Woodruff Avenue East.
When law enforcement arrived, the man was in the parking lot and reportedly pointed the gun at them before running.
A lieutenant with the OCSO used thermal camera technology on an OCSO drone to find the man bunkered down in a corner of a building.
Once located, commands were given for him to surrender, which he did once he realized they had found his hiding spot, the OCSO reported.
“Having the drone capability may have helped save the life of a law enforcement officer or the OCSO K9, since they didn’t have to be sent into the building in an attempt to find the armed individual,” the release stated.
“It was a great example of local law enforcement agencies partnering for public safety.”
The man faces numerous charges by the Crestview Police Department.