The Stark County Sheriff’s Office deployed its drone program to apprehend a fleeing suspect in Plain Township.
On Wednesday, January 31, at approximately 9:23 a.m., deputies responded to a disturbance call in the 2800 block of Heritage Avenue Northwest in Plain Township. Upon arrival, 28-year-old Cody Stewart of Canton, the alleged suspect, initially provided false information to deputies before fleeing on foot.
Deputies discovered that Stewart had several active warrants for his arrest, including for Aggravated Assault (F4), Carrying a Concealed Weapon (F4), and Theft (M1). Believing Stewart had fled into a nearby wooded area, a deputy certified in drone operations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) deployed a drone.
Using the drone, Stewart was located and apprehended at approximately 10:10 a.m. in a wooded area in the 2900 block of Blake Avenue Northwest in Plain Township. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Stark County Jail on his outstanding warrants, in addition to charges of Obstruction (F5) and Identity Fraud (F4).
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office Drone Program comprises six FAA Certified Drone Operators and 12 active drones.