Drone Used by Ohio Deputies to Track Fugitive in the Woods

A DJI drone helped catch a suspect after a night crash on U.S. Route 62 in Stark County, Ohio that quickly escalated into a foot pursuit that could have ended very differently without modern tools, as WKYC reports.

Deputies say 56 year old John Osler clipped a truck, ripping off a mud flap and a trailer light before damaging his own vehicle badly enough that the truck driver immediately knew something was wrong.

Before deputies even arrived at the crash scene, Osler ran into nearby woods, disappearing into darkness and trees. A quick license plate check explained the urgency.

Investigators learned Osler had an active warrant for violating parole tied to a Cuyahoga County murder case from the 1990s, instantly raising the risk level of the search.

Instead of a slow and potentially dangerous ground search, deputies made a faster call.

DJI Matrice 4T spots heat in seconds

To locate the suspect, a Stark County deputy launched a drone, and based on photos previously shared by the sheriff’s office on Facebook, the aircraft used appears to be a DJI Matrice 4T. We were able to identify the drone from one of those images thanks to its unmistakable airframe and sensor layout, something drone nerds tend to notice instantly.

The Matrice 4T is a serious piece of hardware. It is equipped with a powerful thermal camera designed specifically for public safety operations, allowing operators to detect heat signatures through darkness, light foliage, and uneven terrain. That capability is exactly what made the difference in this case.

Sheriff Eric Weisburn explained that once airborne, the drone scanned the wooded area for heat signatures and quickly narrowed in on Osler’s position.

Video from the drone shows the suspect moving through the trees while a deputy drives nearby, guided in real time by the drone operator. Within just eight minutes, Osler was located hiding under a tree and taken into custody without incident.

Court records show Osler is now facing multiple charges, including OVI and resisting arrest. No one was injured in the crash, and he has a court hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

From flashlights to thermal vision

Sheriff Weisburn reflected on how different this call would have been years ago. Before drones, deputies would have been forced to walk through dark woods with flashlights, a slow and risky process, especially when the suspect has a violent criminal history.

Today, Stark County operates 12 drones with six certified operators, tools that have proven valuable not only for suspect searches but also for locating missing people. With aircraft like the DJI Matrice 4T, deputies can get eyes on a suspect before approaching, improving both safety and decision making.

Thermal cameras remove guesswork. They do not rely on visibility, cooperation, or luck. If someone is warm and moving, the drone sees them.

DroneXL’s Take

This is exactly the kind of scenario the DJI Matrice 4T was built for. Dense woods, nighttime conditions, and a suspect who does not want to be found are no match for a modern thermal payload. Eight minutes from launch to arrest is not just impressive, it shows how drones have quietly transformed law enforcement operations. Running into the woods used to buy time. In the age of thermal drones, it mostly buys you a short walk to the patrol car.

Photo credit: WKYC