Drone helps capture 2 men

With help from a drone used by the police Air Support Unit, two suspects were chased and arrested on Thursday in the Tunapuna area.

The drone was used by the Northern Division Task Force in capturing two of three suspects.

Under acting Insp Robert Joseph and Sgt Rene Katwaroo, police intercepted a black Nissan Sylphy car with three occupants at Goya Street, El Dorado, after responding to a report of gunfire at about 5pm that afternoon at Madoo Hill, Tunapuna.

Reports said the suspects ran out of the car into some bushes, south of the Priority Bus Route, near the Macoya Industrial Estate.

Police asked for assistance from the Air Support Unit at about 6.30 pm, and drone pilot Sgt Ronny Rampallard and tactical systems operator Cpl Phillip Forbes launched “Dragonfly 3.” The team searched the area and eventually captured two men, a 24-year-old from Straker Lane, Tunapuna, and an 18-year-old from Dookie Lane, Tunapuna

Police searched the car and found a Luger pistol, loaded with 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and 186 grammes of marijuana. Several attempts to contact the Air Support Unit to ascertain whether this was the first time drone technology had been used in crime-fighting were met with various transferred calls that led nowhere or to the response: “I can’t say.”