Authorities Used Aircraft To Keep Tabs On Their Suspect

In a standoff with an armed suspect that lasted 15 hours, the Columbia (GA) County Sheriff's Office deployed their quadcopters in an effort to keep track of the armed suspect who was barricaded in a house in Harlem, GA. But one of the department's three aircraft was shot down by the suspect.

Television station WRDW reports that the Sheriff has three aircraft; one for training, one with a GoPro camera, and one with a FLIR system. Deputies used the aircraft to help them keep track of the gunman, whom they could not see much of the time, particularly at night using the heat-sensing technology. "We could see him come out to the window during the night," said Columbia County Sheriff's Department Capt. Sharif Chochol.

But the suspect managed to bring one of the aircraft down, Chochol said.

But the officer added that it was better for a drone to be shot than a deputy. "Anything that makes our job a little safer is a plus for us," he said.

The standoff with Randall Seaton began at 5:30 Sunday afternoon, and negotiations went through the night. At times his only response was gunfire, according to the report.

Television station WFXG reports that the standoff ended with Seaton in custody, and charges are pending.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.columbiacountyso.org