Skip to Content
News

Video: LAPD Used a Drone for the First Time to Nab Hollywood Robber

Via LAPD.

[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he Los Angeles Police Department announced on Tuesday that it had deployed a drone for the first time during a barricade situation last week, under a one-year pilot program authorized by the Police Commission last year.

The drone was used on January 9 in the 300 block of Berendo Street in Koreatown, where a robbery suspect was hiding in the attic of an apartment. Police arrived at around 4 am and there began a nine-hour standoff.

Seven hours into the standoff, a drone team within the Special Weapons and Tactics platoon received approval by Deputy Chief Horace Frank to use the drone to find out whether the suspect was hiding behind the second floor door.

After determining it was safe to enter, the SWAT team then breached the front door of the residence. Police found the man hiding in an attic and took him into custody without harming him, Moore said.

LAPD released drone footage from the incident.

“The situation of an elevated location, a staircase, of an approach [puts them] in significant peril should the suspect be hiding behind a door inside that residence out of their view,” said LAPD Chief Michel Moore.

The suspect had been wanted for a convenience store robbery in December in the 4900 block of Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood near Los Angeles Community College.

The one-year pilot program went into effect on July 16. After the completion of the one year period, the commission will review and tweak the program, said Steve Soboroff, L.A. Police Commission president.

RELATED: After Standoff with Mom, LAPD Arrest Brother of Grechario Mack, Who Was Killed in Officer-Involved Shooting

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

City of L.A. Quietly Abandons Plans To Expand Electric Car Share Program To South L.A.

BlueLA shut down last month after the city received a multi-million dollar grant to expand the car share service into South Los Angeles.

The Original Pantry Cafe Lives Again at This East Los Taquería

If you ever dreamed of having Original Pantry's breakfast with a full salsa bar on the side, your dreams have just come true. This East L.A. taquería is giving a new home to Original Pantry Cafe workers after the century-old diner’s lamented closure.

The Seven Best Tacos in Azusa

In Azusa, you'll mostly find CalMex and the simple joy of traditional taquería fare. But there are a few glorious outliers involving mole negro, fried quesadillas, and stewed spicy pork leg. Here's where to go.

Little Tokyo’s Japanese American National Museum Stood Up For DEI, Then Lost Funding

Like many museums across the country, JANM has recently been targeted by the Trump administration. After receiving a letter saying that their programs do not align with the current administration’s goals, their funding was cut by $1.7 million (with an additional $5 million still in limbo). 

Casamigos and Don Julio Cited In Massive Lawsuit Over Adulterated Tequila

The lawsuit filed by three plaintiffs in the United States District Court Eastern District of New York allege that Diageo is "falsely marketing its highly popular tequila brands and selling adulterated tequila to consumers.”

May 6, 2025
See all posts