A San Francisco police drone helped turn a short Mission District foot chase into an arrest last Saturday, after officers tracked a stabbing suspect across several city blocks and then found a bag he allegedly discarded on a rooftop. Inside was a bloody knife, police believe was used in the assault.
According to an update from the San Francisco Police, officers responded to the 1100 block of Mission Street for a reported stabbing before the department’s Real-Time Investigation Center began reviewing surveillance footage. The center tracked a man in a multicolored windbreaker running east on Mission Street and later onto Minna Street, then relayed his direction to responding officers. Police identified the suspect as Lamedh Porter, 36, of Pleasant Hill.
WATCH: On July 25, SFPD arrested a stabbing suspect after a brief foot pursuit.
— San Francisco Police (@SFPD) August 1, 2026
A drone helped officers locate a bag discarded by the suspect during the chase - leading to the recovery of a bloody knife believed to have been used in the assault.
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How Police Say The Drone Found The Evidence
The pursuit got more complicated when police say Porter changed clothes between two parked vehicles on Minna Street. Real-Time Investigation Center personnel observed him place something beneath a parked car, and officers later found his distinctive jacket and hat there.
Police also say Porter threw a black bag onto the roof of a nearby building. SFPD’s Drone as First Responder program helped locate the bag from above, allowing officers to recover a bloody knife that the department said was believed to have been used in the assault.
The arrest shows how SFPD’s technology-heavy response is being used during active investigations. SFPD says the Real-Time Investigation Center is staffed around the clock and provides investigative and Drone as a first responder support.
Suspect Booked As Investigation Remains Open
Southern Station patrol officers located Porter on the 400 block of Minna Street and took him into custody without further incident. He was transported to San Francisco County Jail and booked on suspicion of aggravated assault and resisting arrest, and SFPD listed case number 260-421-559.
The stabbing investigation remains open and active, and the police update did not say whether prosecutors have filed a criminal complaint or released details about the victim’s condition. Anyone with information can call SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text TIP411 with “SFPD” at the start of the message.
