Just after 8 a.m. Wednesday, Clovis Police received a call about a theft inside the Walmart at Herndon and Clovis Avenues. The suspect in this case was a 19-year-old man with a known shoplifting history.
"The suspect at Walmart stole a bicycle from inside the store, which the staff thought he would and he took off on that bike," said Ty Wood, Public Information Officer with Clovis Police.
Clovis Police launched its Drone First Responder (DFR). The aircraft arrived on scene, capturing the suspect overhead, all before officers arrived.
The drone pilot zeroed in on the suspect riding through the parking lot of the Trading Post Shopping Center. You can see the drone following the suspect as he crossed over Clovis Avenue before police took him into custody.
"Behind other retail businesses and he would have been lost if it weren't for the drone," said Wood.
Clovis Police identified the suspect as Sean Baker. His prior thefts have banned him from Walmart locations across Fresno County. He now faces charges including shoplifting and obstructing an officer.
The room where it happens was once a former conference room, now the Real Time Information Center. It's a space where Clovis Police can view 400 to 500 cameras across the city, including drone footage.
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"They typically fly at about 200 feet, and so we have a really good bird's eye view with the ability to zoom in. These cameras are fantastic," said Wood. "We have the ability to see license plates and get physical descriptions of suspects."
The department has two dedicated DFR aircraft, each equipped with a siren and infrared to detect body heat. Despite its success in its first week, Clovis Police are aware of concerns expressed by some in the community.
"We understand the public may be concerned about their privacy with Big Brother watching, and we do want to assure the community that our drone program is not used for surveillance. It's used to react and respond to calls for service," said Wood.
Clovis Police is uploading each flight within 48 hours to its website and mobile app with information including the drone's flight path and type of service call.
The department stresses the importance of full transparency with those in the community.
It will launch a third drone in the DFR program, expected to take off next year.
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