A suspect wanted for domestic violence in California was captured on camera surrendering after a police drone identified his location in a massive haystack, effectively bringing an hours-long manhunt to an end.
On Sunday, 29-year-old Adam Armbruster was taken into custody by deputies along with a K9 team, a drone unit, and a Special Enforcement Team from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, who tracked him to a barn where he had buried himself in a towering pile of hay in an apparent attempt to flee.
The search began late Saturday following a report of a woman crying out for help.
Authorities later found that the woman had been assaulted in a domestic dispute, but Armbruster had left the scene prior to their arrival.
The overnight search suggested that he could be hiding nearby, either on his own property or in a structure on an adjacent lot. Sunday morning, the Special Enforcement Team cleared his home before expanding their search to neighboring areas.
Around 2 p.m., a drone patrolling the vicinity spotted Armbruster concealed in the haystack. Video footage released by the sheriff’s office demonstrates how the drone pinpointed his position just before he noticed it. Realizing he was cornered, he waved at the drone and emerged from the hay, surrendering peacefully.
After his arrest, Armbruster was charged with felony domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the Placer County Jail but was later released on bond.
The drone footage triggered a positive reaction online, with comments praising the drone operator’s skill and even humorous inquiries about becoming a police drone pilot.
The sheriff’s office obscured Armbruster’s face in the footage to comply with California AB 1475, which limits the release of booking photos by law enforcement except in specified situations.
