On a Tuesday afternoon, the Campbell Police Department showcased the future of law enforcement in real life at a local Kohl's store. A man and a woman caught in shoplifting found themselves ensnared not just by traditional policing but by the department's cutting-edge Drone as First Responder (DFR) technology. At around 3:15 PM, the suspects, identified as KC Vernon Pries, 38, of Sunnyvale, and Mary Jo Devera, 48, of San Jose, attempted to flee the scene. Devera was apprehended quickly, but Pries led officers on a more prolonged pursuit, ultimately hiding on a residential rooftop, a location exposed by the DFR team's aerial surveillance.
The ensuing investigation revealed the depth of the pair’s criminal activities. The vehicle they abandoned was not only packed with stolen goods, burglary tools, and drug paraphernalia, but it was also a stolen car from San Jose, deceptively disguised with "cold-plated" license plates. This incident wasn't the suspects' first encounter with the law; Pries had been arrested over 25 times since 2004, and Devera had been arrested eight times since 2001, as per the Campbell Police Department.
Both Pries and Devera were subsequently booked into jail, facing a slew of charges, including resisting arrest, conspiracy, retail theft, and car theft, among others. Pries also faces an additional charge for violating parole.
