Shelby Twp. police say drone technology was ‘essential’ in locating fleeing B&E suspect – Macomb Daily

Shelby Township police are praising advanced technology of a drone that was instrumental in a recent arrest of two individuals suspected of trying to break into an abandoned business.

Officers used a thermal imaging program on a drone to locate one of the suspects, who was trying to hide from police in backyards until he was arrested.

“This incident clearly demonstrates the value of the advanced tools our officers have at their disposal,” Shelby Township police Chief Robert Shelide said. “The drone’s thermal imaging capabilities were essential in locating the suspects quickly and safely, giving our officers real time information they couldn’t have obtained from the ground.”

According to a news release, police were called out to the area of Auburn and Ryan roads about 9:40 p.m. May 12 after a resident reported seeing two people trying to break into an abandoned business.

Alexis Lulej (PHOTO PROVIDED BY SHELBY TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT)

Police spotted the subjects and ordered them to stop, but both fled on food, with the officers pursuing them through several residential backyards but eventually losing sight of the pair.

An officer trained as a drone pilot launched a drone to assist in the search and used thermal imaging to detect a heat signature from one of the suspects as he moved between houses and jumped a fence. The drone pilot relayed the suspect’s location to officers on the ground, who then were able to locate and arrest the individual.

Police said suspect is a juvenile, whose identity is being withheld.

Meanwhile, a separate officer responding to the area observed a female walking nearby, who appeared to be sweating and hand grass stains on her clothing, consistent with someone who had recently been running through yards, authorities said. She was later confirmed to be one of the suspects who ran from the police and taken into custody.

Alexis Lulej was arraigned in 41A District Court on charges of assaulting a police officer and…

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