Spokane Valley Deputies use aerial drone footage to catch suspect

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Valley Deputies were able to use aerial footage to locate and arrest the driver of a vehicle who fled from police and crashed their car, which caught on fire.

The Spokane Regional Air Support Unit assisted deputies by using a drone with infrared technology to locate the suspect.

Wanted on a felony Washington State Department of Corrections warrant, the driver was identified as 54-year-old Joseph W. Rungo.

The video shows natural light at first, but later switches to infrared light once the area becomes darker. The drone directed deputies toward the truck cab where the suspect and passenger were hiding. Deputies gave commands to the pair and safely detained them.

Rungo was booked into the Spokane County Jail for attempting to elude a law enforcement vehicle and hit and run by Washington State Patrol Troopers. He remains in custody on those charges and a Washington DOC warrant.

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