Drone technology helps capture dangerous suspect following wrong-way pursuit in Richmond – Contra Costa Herald

Contra Costa Herald
News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California
June 19, 2026 By Publisher Leave a Comment
Screenshots of Richmond Police drone video shows pursuit of suspect driving wrong way on city streets and I-80 freeway. Source: Richmond PD
By Richmond Police Department
On Monday, May 15, 2026, Richmond Police officers responded to reports of a reckless driver who was intentionally driving on the wrong side of the roadway in an apparent attempt to cause a collision.
When officers arrived, the suspect intentionally accelerated his vehicle toward a responding officer, forcing the officer to take immediate evasive action. A vehicle pursuit was authorized; however, after the suspect turned off his headlights and entered the freeway traveling the wrong direction, the pursuit was safely terminated.
Shortly afterward, the suspect collided with another vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded area where the suspect laid down and hid in the bushes.
Screenshots of Richmond Police drone video show suspect colliding with another vehicle while driving the wrong direction on I-80, then exiting his car and a police K-9 finding him hiding in the bushes. Source: Richmond PD
During the search, a K-9 officer yelled out, “Richmond PD K-9 unit. You are under arrest. Surrender, now. If the dog finds you, he may bite you.”
Fortunately, Richmond Police Department’s Drone as a First Responder (DFR) program was overhead throughout the entire incident, providing officers with real-time aerial intelligence and maintaining continuous visual contact with the suspect. This critical technology, combined with the efforts of our officers and K-9 Bane, led to the successful apprehension of this dangerous individual.
This incident highlights how innovative public safety technology can help officers make informed decisions, reduce risk to the community, and safely bring dangerous situations to a resolution.
Outstanding teamwork by our patrol officers, K-9 Bane, and DFR operators!
See video on Facebook or Instagram.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Filed Under: Crime, News, Police, West County
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