An Oklahoma City police drone captured an armed robbery as it happened at an Oklahoma City gas station, feeding live video to officers who tracked the suspect and arrested him.
The robbery occurred Oct. 25 in the parking lot of a gas station near SE 15th Street and High, KFOR reported. The Oklahoma City Police Department's Real Time Information Center, known as RTIC, deployed the drone and gave responding officers a live view of the crime in progress.
Drone video showed a suspect pointing a gun at people in the parking lot.
"Drone operators observed the suspect forcing the victims to remove their clothing and provided real-time updates to responding officers," Ben Weir with the Oklahoma City Police Department said, according to KFOR.
Officers watched the live feed while driving to the scene. The suspect tried to run.
"The drone continued tracking his movements, allowing officers to safely adjust their response and take him into custody," Weir said.
Body camera footage showed officers with the suspect on the ground, hands up, before making the arrest, according to KFOR.
FOX 25’s November 2 report identified the suspect as Christian Johnson. He was booked on charges of robbery with a firearm, pointing a firearm, gang-related offenses and possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction. Charges are allegations; the suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Oklahoma City Police Department highlighted the arrest on Facebook, saying RTIC "deployed a drone, providing officers with a live view of the incident and helping track the armed robbery suspect as he fled."
The department called the case "another example of how RTIC technology gives our officers an added advantage in the field."
