DFR helps Brookhaven PD track teens in stolen vehicle

Synopsis

Brookhaven Police used Drone as First Responder (DFR) technology to apprehend three teens suspected in a string of recent crimes. When officers spotted the group attempting to steal a vehicle, they deployed a drone to gain overhead visibility.

The drone captured one of the teens climbing into a car before the group quickly abandoned it and fled in another vehicle—later confirmed to be stolen. As officers set up a perimeter, the drone provided real-time updates to support a coordinated response.

The teens led police on a multi-jurisdiction pursuit before crashing and being taken into custody. Two 15-year-olds and the 17-year-old driver were arrested. Brookhaven’s Chief of Police, Brandon Gurley, emphasized the increasing role of juvenile suspects in high-risk incidents—and how tools like drones help bring those events to a safer outcome.