Brand new drone system helps Luzerne County police find, arrest wanted man
BUTLER TOWNSHIP POLICE / SUBMITTED PHOTO - Caption: Officers place Tyrese Jones into a police car following his arrest Monday evening.
HONEY HOLE – A Drums man is facing charges after police said he fled through woodlands and the former Angela Park before being caught with the help of a drone.
Police in Luzerne County’s Butler Township arrested Tyrese Jones, 39, of Drums Monday evening after reports of a man walking along a road in Beech Mountain Lakes threatening people with a knife.
Jones was charged with misdemeanor terroristic threats, simple assault, resisting arrest, and evading arrest.
One caller told police around 5pm that Jones was walking in the middle of Edge Rock Drive in the development, waving a knife and yelling at the caller.
On his way out of the development, a security officer confronted him and Jones then allegedly brandished the knife and told the officer that “now” he was “threatening someone.”
Butler Township Police caught up to Jones on Route 309, when he threw the knife and continued to walk away.
Officers struggled with Jones and a taser device was deployed, though Jones broke free, rolled under a guide rail, and ran through the former Angela Park.
He then swam across the Nescopeck Creek and assistance was requested from neighboring departments, including the City of Hazleton’s K-9 unit.
Butler Township also deployed their new drone system and he was seen near Honey Hole Road around 7:45pm. He was tracked by the drone until officers assembled to arrest him. When they approached, he tried to hide but the drone operator was able to help officers on the ground locate him.
“While Jones’ identity was learned early-on in the investigation, his erratic and violent behavior posed a danger to the community and it was important that was located,” Chief William J. Feissner said in a media release. “Having the unmanned aerial system permitted officers to locate the suspect and monitor his movements as officers approached. Without it, it is likely he would have been able to elude being captured that night, leaving the community at risk.”
At the time of the incident, Beech Mountain Lakes closed their clubhouse.
Jones was arraigned Tuesday morning and committed to Luzerne County Prison and was denied bail. According to online court records, the denial was because he “is a danger to others.”
State Police and officers from Hazleton, Sugarloaf Township, Freeland, and White Haven assisted.
The drone system was put in service less than a month ago, thanks to a local share account grant, police said.
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