REDMOND, Wash. — The Redmond Police Department used its eyes in the skies to help track down a shoplifting suspect- and they shared video of the ordeal.
On Jan. 27, just before 3 p.m., officers were called to a retail store on Northeast 76th Street for a woman accused of stealing.
Officers quickly deployed a drone to track the woman, who they say boarded a bus at a nearby park and ride.
The drone pilot was able to track the bus for a little over a mile and provide live updates to patrol officers on the ground.
Officers tracked the woman to another park and ride in the area and arrested her.
It turns out, the woman had arrest warrants for theft and obstruction.
The department launched its Drones as First Responders program last spring.
The goal is to use them to help officers assess the safety of a scene before ground units arrive.