Madison Police Use Drone To Catch Fleeing Suspect

Madison Police used a drone early Friday morning to locate a suspect who ran from officers on the city’s south side. The incident began around 12:20 a.m. when a resident in the 1900 block of Axel Avenue reported someone walking up driveways and pulling on car door handles. The caller also provided a clear description, which allowed officers to begin searching the neighborhood right away. WMTV15 reported about the case.

About forty minutes later, officers spotted someone who matched that description in the 4400 block of Britta Parkway. That location is roughly a quarter mile from where the suspicious activity was first reported. When officers approached the individual, he allegedly refused to identify himself and kept reaching into his pockets. Officers attempted to speak with him, but the man took off running back toward Axel Avenue.

Because officers did not know whether he was armed, they moved with caution. Ground units began searching nearby yards while others set up a perimeter. The situation was turning into a fast moving search in a dark residential area, where visibility for officers on foot was limited. This made the drone a natural next step.

Drone Helps Officers Identify The Suspect’s Hiding Spot

An officer launched a drone and began scanning the backyards along Devolis Parkway. The aerial view allowed the pilot to check spots that ground officers could not easily see, including behind sheds, near fences, and around thick vegetation. These are the locations where suspects usually try to hide, especially at night.

The drone quickly picked up movement in a backyard in the 4300 block of Devolis Parkway. From above, the pilot could clearly see a person crouched behind an object. Officers on the ground moved toward the spot while keeping constant communication with the drone operator, who guided them with precise directions.

Once officers arrived at the backyard, they located the suspect and took him into custody without further conflict. The individual was identified as 18 year old Towain Young.

A search of the area where he had been hiding revealed a loaded handgun with a 30 round extended magazine. Officers also found extra ammunition on him. According to police, Young is a convicted felon, and state law does not allow him to have a firearm or ammunition.

Young was booked into the Dane County Jail on charges that include felon in possession of a firearm and resisting arrest. Since he was already on probation, officers also placed a probation hold on him.

This incident illustrates how drones are becoming essential tools in law enforcement, even in routine calls. Something that begins as a property related concern can quickly escalate into a serious threat when a suspect is armed and runs from officers. The drone gave police a safe way to track the suspect without sending officers into blind corners.

Drone Use Continues To Grow In Local Police Work

More police departments across the United States are expanding their drone programs, not only for major investigations but for everyday patrol work. Drones help officers cover large areas fast, maintain safer perimeters, and react to fleeing suspects with much better visibility. Nighttime operations especially benefit from aerial tools because low light conditions often slow ground searches.

Departments use drones for missing person cases, accident reconstruction, crime scene mapping, and tactical deployments. But one of the fastest growing uses is tracking suspects who try to hide in residential areas. Ground officers can only see a limited space at once. A drone can scan an entire street in a matter of seconds.

The Madison Police Department has used drones before, but this case shows how effective they are in fast developing situations. Instead of risking an unsafe approach or spending long periods searching yard by yard, officers relied on the drone to provide eyes in the sky and guide them directly to the hiding spot.

As drone training improves and more officers learn to operate these systems, incidents like this will become even more common. The speed and accuracy of aerial searches give departments a strong advantage, especially when dealing with suspects who may be armed.

DroneXL’s Take

Police drones keep proving their value during nighttime searches and fast moving situations. This case shows how a simple car door check call can turn into a high risk chase with an armed suspect. The drone allowed officers to find him quickly and safely, reducing risk for everyone involved. As more departments adopt drones and integrate them into regular patrol operations, stories like this will continue to grow.

Photo credit: Madison Police Department