In a high-tech twist on law enforcement methods, New Bedford detectives recently employed a thermal imaging device to crack a firearm case. During a patrol on December 1, Gang Unit detectives encountered 23-year-old Tyler Thomas, known from past run-ins with law enforcement, near Cedar St. and Norton Ct. around 10:30 p.m. As they approached, Thomas allegedly took off running but was later stopped and found carrying a spring-loaded knife, according to a Facebook post by the City of New Bedford Police Department (Official).
Continuing their search, detectives found a.38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver in a nearby bush. To connect the weapon to Thomas, they turned to a thermal imaging camera, a tool increasingly utilized to swiftly establish a suspect's recent contact with an item. The device detected the gun's heat signature, which revealed that the object had been recently handled and ultimately helped to verify that Thomas had indeed been in possession of the firearm before discarding it during his attempted flight from the officers.
The use of this innovative technology—detailed in a Facebook post by the New Bedford Police—underlines law enforcement's growing reliance on sophisticated gadgets to bolster their investigative capabilities. When detectives first imaged the gun, it registered at 55 degrees. A subsequent reading, taken about 16 minutes later, showed the temperature of the pistol had dropped to 36 degrees, a significant cooldown pointing to recent abandonment.
Thomas was arrested and charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license. His sheet includes previous convictions for possession of a Class "B" substance, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery. At the time of this incident, he was already facing assault and battery charges in New Bedford District Court from a June occurrence. The New Bedford Police are urging anyone with information concerning criminal activities to reach out and ensure that the streets remain safe for all.
