DJI Drone Tracks DUI Suspect in Freezing Woods

In the blue hush of a 5 a.m. Washington morning, when frost grips the grass and most of the world is still asleep, a small aircraft lifted into the air above Deer Park.

Not a helicopter. Not a plane. A DJI bird. Like the ones that you and me fly everyday. Well, not exactly like my Neo 2, maybe a little more expensive, but you get the point.

Deputies with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office deployed one of their unmanned aircraft to locate a woman suspected of driving under the influence after she reportedly crashed and ran into the woods, as KXLY reports.

And this is where the story shifts from routine DUI call to a textbook example of why DJI dominates the public safety drone market.

Crash, Cold, and a Disappearing Suspect

According to deputies, they were called to the intersection of North Monroe Road and West Antler Road around 5 a.m. Sunday for a reported solo crash. Witnesses said 23-year old Gabrielle Cristadora had crashed her Ford F-150 and fled the scene on foot.

There was one major problem.

It was about 30 degrees outside.

Witnesses told law enforcement she appeared intoxicated and was barefoot when she ran into the woods. In freezing temperatures, that is not just reckless. It is dangerous. Exposure can turn critical fast.

Instead of sending deputies blindly into dark, wooded terrain, the sheriff’s office turned to the sky.

DJI Matrice 30 and Thermal Precision

A look at the department’s public social media shows they operate the DJI Matrice 30, one of DJI’s flagship enterprise platforms built specifically for public safety, search and rescue, and tactical operations.

This is not a hobby drone with a GoPro strapped underneath. The Matrice 30 is a compact, weather resistant aircraft packed with serious hardware. Most importantly for this case, it carries an integrated thermal camera.

Thermal imaging does not care about darkness. It does not need streetlights. It detects heat signatures against cooler backgrounds. In a wooded area at 30 degrees, a human body becomes a glowing beacon.

Deputies launched the drone and began scanning the tree line. Within minutes, they spotted a heat signature consistent with a person moving through the brush.

That heat signature belonged to Cristadora.

Instead of a prolonged ground search with potential risk to officers and the suspect, deputies were able to move directly to her location. She was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for treatment and a blood draw.

According to the sheriff’s office, she was cited for driving under the influence but not booked into jail because she required additional observation at the hospital.

Why DJI Keeps Showing Up in Public Safety

Cases like this are becoming routine across the United States. And one brand keeps appearing in the incident reports: DJI.

Despite ongoing political pressure in Washington, D.C., DJI remains the dominant player in the public safety drone sector. Agencies choose these systems for a simple reason. They work.

The Matrice 30 platform combines thermal, zoom, and wide cameras in a single rugged airframe. It can deploy quickly from a patrol vehicle. It can operate in rain and cold. And it provides real time video to deputies on the ground.

For search and rescue missions, especially in low light or extreme weather, thermal imaging can mean the difference between finding someone in minutes or searching for hours.

In this Deer Park incident, the drone was not just a convenience. It likely prevented prolonged exposure in freezing conditions. Barefoot in 30 degree weather, time was not on the suspect’s side.

Public safety drone programs are no longer experimental. They are operational tools, integrated into dispatch and field response. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office clearly understands that.

DroneXL’s Take

Another early morning call. Another suspect fleeing into the dark. Another DJI drone quietly doing the job.

This case highlights something simple but powerful. Drones are not just about cool aerial footage or cinematic real estate shots. In law enforcement, they are force multipliers and life saving tools.

The DJI Matrice 30 continues to prove why it is a favorite among agencies. Compact enough to ride in a patrol SUV. Powerful enough to see heat in a freezing forest. Reliable enough to be trusted before sunrise.

For readers who follow drone policy debates, this is the practical reality on the ground. Deputies need tools that deploy fast, perform consistently, and deliver clear data under pressure. Right now, DJI checks those boxes for many departments.

In Deer Park, a small aircraft in the sky turned a dangerous search into a quick resolution. No dramatic chase. No hours lost in the woods. Just thermal pixels lighting up in the cold.

Photo credit: KXLY, DJI.