Commerce City police say a patrol drone helped officers track down and arrest a person who allegedly assaulted a relative with a knife on Monday, then tried to disappear under a tarp behind a house. The department says officers recovered two bladed weapons and took the suspect into custody at the scene.
In a video posted to Facebook, the drone’s camera locks onto the suspect’s heat signature while a pilot radios precise directions to officers on the ground. The post states that officers removed a dagger from the suspect and recovered a sword from the hiding spot before placing the person in custody.
Drone as First Responder provided real-time location
Commerce City launched its Drone as First Responder program in 2025 to give officers real-time situational awareness and cut down on risky pursuits, according to the city’s announcement of the program from the City of Commerce City. The department’s public materials state that drones are deployed only in response to active incidents or specific camera alerts, not for routine or proactive surveillance.
What officers say happened during the call…