Police use drones and thermal imaging to catch carjacking suspect at Pineville Christmas parade

On December 15, 2024By Online Niel

PINEVILLE, La. (KALB) – The Pineville Police Department said a man was arrested during the annual Pineville Christmas Parade on December 13, 2024.

In a post on social mediaThe PPD stated that, “to ensure the safety of citizens and their property during the event, plainclothes officers and a drone equipped with thermal imaging were deployed to monitor the area for suspicious activity.”

A plainclothes officer reportedly saw two people tampering with a car while the parade was underway. The two individuals fled when approached, however, a person matching one of their descriptions was later seen in a parking lot by the officer.

PPD said a live drone equipped with thermal imaging was then used to track the subject’s movements. They were later seen crawling under and tampering with a vehicle in the 600 block of Lakeview Street. When the subject walked toward Main Street, uniformed officers approached and apprehended him.

He has been identified as 21-year-old Kejuan Thomas. Officers spoke with witnesses who implicated Thomas in another attempted burglary.

PPD reportedly used drones and thermal imaging to catch suspect at Pineville Christmas… — PPD reportedly used drones and thermal imaging to catch a suspect at the Pineville Christmas Parade(PPD)

Thomas, who also allegedly had three active warrants, was arrested on the following charges:

Two counts of attempted simple burglary
One count of criminal mischief

PPD said Thomas was booked into the Rapides One Detention Center. No bond value has been set.

No details were provided about the alleged second individual.

An investigation is ongoing.

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