COEUR D’ALENE , Idaho — The Idaho State Police used a drone while investigating a multiagency standoff in northern Idaho that resulted in a fugitive dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Coeur d’Alene Press reported that officers obtained a warrant that allowed them to photograph an armed fugitive who had barricaded himself inside his home.
The drone was used to gather aerial photography of the complex, State Police spokeswoman Teresa Baker said.
However, the drone was not owned by the agency. Instead, State Police used an unmanned aircraft provided by a detective.
It was the second time the agency had used a drone during an investigation. Back in August, the State Police deployed a drone to a scene where a shooting occurred near Post Falls.
“Additionally, the use of an unmanned aircraft is also less intrusive for the neighbors as they are generally small and quiet as opposed to the noise of a helicopter,” Baker said. “Their use is also probably safer than a helicopter hovering over a neighborhood.”
The State Police hasn’t decided if it will continue using unmanned aircraft in the future, Baker said. “But (there) will be a consideration if this type of instrument can help in a particular case to document the evidence on a scene or even for tactical or surveillance purposes,” she said.
Baker added, however, that aerial views can serve as important pieces of evidence for investigations while also saving taxpayers money. Unmanned aircrafts are much smaller, meaning they’re cheaper to operate than a helicopter.
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