BROOKSVILLE, Fla. – On Wednesday, at 5:31 p.m., Hernando County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence on Winter Street in reference to a suicidal subject who had left the residence prior to law enforcement’s arrival.
According to witnesses, the female subject had made statements threatening to commit self-harm and threats to harm a family member. An initial ground search yielded negative results for the subject.
A deputy, certified in drone piloting, deployed his drone to locate the suicidal subject. While surveying a wooded area adjacent to Winter Street, the deputy noticed some movement along the tree line. Using the drone, the deputy positively identified the person hiding in the tree line as the suicidal woman.
The deputy used the drone to direct other investigators on the ground to the subject’s location. The woman was immediately taken into protective custody and was transported to Springbrook Hospital under a Baker Act.