Conroe Police Drone Helps Officers Track Suspect After Assault

CONROE, Texas – An 18-year-old man was arrested after a police drone helped officers track a vehicle leaving the scene of an assault Monday night, according to the Conroe Police Department.

Officers responded Sept. 22 to a disturbance in the 900 block of South Third Street, where police said an assault had occurred.

At the time of the call, a Drone as First Responder, or DFR, aircraft was already airborne and returning to land after assisting officers with a traffic stop. The drone pilot redirected the aircraft to the disturbance.

Once over the area, the drone located a white passenger car leaving the scene, police said. The pilot followed the vehicle from the air while relaying its location and direction of travel to officers on the ground.

Using that information, officers located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.

Following an investigation, police arrested Roberto Orellana, 18. He was charged with assault causing bodily injury and possession of a controlled substance.

Police did not identify the assault victim, describe the extent of the person’s injuries or specify the type or amount of controlled substance investigators said was found.

The department also did not say whether Orellana was driving the vehicle or provide additional details about what led to the disturbance.