CLOVIS, CA — Two people were arrested Thursday after a daylight shooting led to a vehicle chase and a crash at a local intersection.
The Clovis Police Department responded to the area of Shepherd and Sunnyside avenues on Jan. 29 following numerous 911 calls reporting a shooting. Officers confirmed that no one was injured during the gunfire.
Investigators used the department’s real-time crime center and a drone to identify and track a maroon Chevy Impala that matched descriptions of a getaway vehicle. A drone pilot and crime center analysts monitored the car as it moved through the city.
According to police, when officers tried to pull the car over, the driver sped away, leading to a chase. The pursuit ended when the suspect car crashed at the intersection of Nees and Willow avenues.
Following the collision, police arrested a 19-year-old man and a teenager. The 19-year-old was booked into the Fresno County Jail on felony charges of evading police and assault with a firearm. The teenager was booked into the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Center for possessing a loaded gun.
The Clovis Police Department currently operates two drones and is buying a third to expand its program, which sends drones to emergencies before officers arrive. Department officials stated that the drone program can monitor about 90 percent of the city and is only used during active emergencies.
The use of this technology comes as California cities take varying approaches to surveillance. For example, Santa Cruz recently canceled a contract for automated license plate readers—cameras that scan license plates—due to privacy concerns. However, police in Fresno continue to use the technology, stating their system is secure from unauthorized access.
