A juvenile suspect led Sonoma County deputies on a wild chase after breaking into three vacation homes in the Northern California hamlet of Duncans Mills. In a series of break-ins before sunset yesterday, the young vandal caused significant damage to all the invaded properties on Freezeout Road.
Deputies attempted to apprehend the suspect around 7:00 p.m. when they discovered him holed up in one of the homes. However, the youth bolted, prompting an exhaustive search effort by the river substation and main office deputies. He was next spotted near the 21000 block of Moscow Road, only to dash once more, disappearing into the river's chilly waters, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office reported.
The escape took a high-tech turn when law enforcement deployed a drone, using its thermal imaging to track the suspect's heat signature hidden in a riverside brush. Guided by the airborne eye, deputies on the ground managed to corner and finally arrest the suspect.
With no additional details about the suspect's identity due to age restrictions, the young culprit was booked at Juvenile Hall. His rap sheet now includes charges for burglary, felony vandalism, obstructing and resisting a peace officer, and answering for an outstanding juvenile arrest warrant.
