A police drone helped Arvada officers track down a runaway pit bull after an early morning home attack that sent multiple people to the hospital, officials said.
Officers were called to a home around 3:15 a.m. after a large gray and white pit bull bit at least one person, then bolted from the scene. Police said the injured were treated at a local hospital and that the dog's owner was among those who sought care, but authorities did not say how many people were attacked or whether the owner was the person who suffered serious injuries, according to CBS Colorado.
Witnesses later reported seeing the dog heading northwest on 67th Avenue near Lamar Street before it disappeared. Officers asked nearby residents to call 911 with any sightings. By that afternoon, Arvada's Drone First Responder unit spotted the animal, which was then captured and taken to a local animal shelter, CBS Colorado reported.
How the Drone Program Is Being Used Across the Metro
Drone First Responder pilots are intended to get an aircraft over a scene faster than officers in patrol cars and to stream live aerial video that can guide searches and improve officer safety. Commerce City and other jurisdictions have launched DFR programs this year, and local coverage says departments credit the technology with speeding up searches and reducing risks during volatile calls, as Denver7 reported. Arvada's use of a drone in Sunday’s search is one of several recent examples of the technology assisting in non-criminal and search responses.
What Residents Should Know
The Arvada Police Department's Drone First Responder page says flights are limited to incidents where aerial support clearly benefits public safety and that operations are governed by department policy and FAA rules. The city also operates a transparency portal that lists drone flights.
The captured dog was taken to a shelter, and police did not immediately say whether it would be quarantined or whether any charges were pending, according to CBS Colorado. For animal-related complaints or to report sightings, Arvada Animal Management asks residents to call 720-898-6850 during business hours or use non-emergency dispatch after hours.
