Sunny Isles Police Drone Catches Trespasser on Dark Beach

The beaches of Sunny Isles, Florida, are now under the watchful eye of a new kind of patrol officer—one that flies. The city’s police department is already seeing a major return on its new drone program, as reported by Local 10, as they recently used a Skydio X10 to spot and track a trespasser on the beach in the dead of night, leading to a successful arrest.

The incident, which occurred at 3 a.m., is a powerful demonstration of how advanced, AI-driven drones can completely change the game for a local police department, especially when it comes to nighttime operations.

Nowhere to Hide from the Eye in the Sky

In the early hours of last Thursday, a police drone on a routine patrol spotted a man, later identified as Jeffrey Gibson, on the beach long after a city ordinance required it to be clear. The drone operator used the aircraft’s powerful spotlight to illuminate Gibson, who, according to Lt. Melissa Porro, was “very annoyed” and began waving and yelling at the drone.

The drone didn’t just spot him; it stayed with him. It followed Gibson from a safe altitude as he walked away and eventually sat down at a bus stop. The drone’s live video feed allowed officers on the ground to be directed to his exact location, where he was arrested on an outstanding warrant. A check of his record revealed a history of robbery, burglary, and assault.

As Lt. Porro noted, this kind of nighttime beach patrol was simply impossible just a few months ago. The department’s $250,000 investment in its drone program is already paying off, allowing them to enforce local laws and catch offenders in situations where they previously had no visibility.

The Skydio X10: The Right Tool for the Job

The drone at the heart of this program, the Skydio X10, is a powerhouse of autonomous technology and the perfect tool for this mission. Unlike many other drones that rely heavily on the pilot’s skill, the X10 is famous for its AI-driven brain that can navigate complex environments and track subjects on its own.

Its powerful sensor package is key. The X10 is equipped with a high-resolution zoom camera and a top-tier thermal camera for seeing in complete darkness. The bright, integrated spotlight can illuminate a scene, disorient a suspect, and guide ground officers.

What makes the Skydio platform a favorite for law enforcement is its ease of use and autonomy. It allows an officer to focus on the mission—like keeping an eye on a suspect—while the drone handles the complex task of flying, avoiding obstacles, and maintaining a perfect position. It’s a true robotic partner.

A Force Multiplier for Small Departments

This incident is a perfect example of how drones act as a “force multiplier” for police departments. For a fraction of the cost of a helicopter, the Sunny Isles Beach PD now has an aerial asset that can be deployed in minutes.

A single drone pilot can do the work of multiple officers on the ground, searching a large area quickly and safely. This frees up other officers to respond to more urgent calls, making the entire department more efficient and effective. It’s a smart investment that is becoming a new standard for modern policing.

DroneXL’s Take

It’s one thing to have a drone; it’s another thing to have a smart drone. The choice of the Skydio X10 for this kind of work is a fascinating detail. It shows that the Sunny Isles PD wasn’t just looking for a camera in the sky; they were looking for an autonomous partner that could think for itself and reduce the cognitive load on their officers.

“Real talk,” flying at night over a beach has its own challenges. But the real game-changer here is the AI. Skydio’s autonomy allows an officer to be a mission commander, not just a pilot who is trying not to crash. They can tell the drone, “Follow that guy,” and the drone does it, leaving the officer free to coordinate the response on the ground. That is a massive advantage.

This is the kind of smart, targeted, and effective drone use that builds public trust. It’s not about random surveillance; it’s about responding to a specific problem—nighttime crime on the beach—and solving it with the best tool for the job. It’s a huge win for the Sunny Isles community and another great example of how AI is making public safety drones more powerful and effective than ever before.

Photo credit: WPLG Local 10 Youtube Channel