DENVER (KDVR) — A little over a month ago, agents with the Lakewood Police Department in Colorado resuscitated an intoxicated teenager who was not breathing.
Police said the teen likely would not have survived if it wasn’t for the help of technology, specifically a drone used to aid in the search.
The incident happened on May 10. Agents responded to a call regarding “a group of intoxicated juveniles” just before 9 p.m. near the Colorado Mills Mall.
One of the juveniles told agents that one of their friends, a teen who was “very intoxicated,” walked away and was missing.
The juveniles pointed officers toward where their friend walked off.
“They pointed to a large open field, with no lighting, just pitch-black open space,” the Lakewood Police Department said in a post on Facebook.
That’s when the life-saving technology became helpful. LPD said Agent Bacon requested a drone operator to the scene and Agent Taylor quickly responded with the drone.
The drone was equipped with an infrared camera to see in the dark. With the camera, Agent Taylor spotted “what appeared to be a small person laying down in brush.”
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A little over a month ago, agents with the Lakewood Police Department were able to resuscitate an intoxicated teenager who was found not breathing. Agents used a drone equipped with an infrared camera to find the teen. (Lakewood Police Department) -
A little over a month ago, agents with the Lakewood Police Department were able to resuscitate an intoxicated teenager who was found not breathing. Agents used a drone equipped with an infrared camera to find the teen. (Lakewood Police Department)
Taylor directed other agents to the teen, who was found not breathing.
They immediately began lifesaving efforts with CPR and positioning the teen in a recovery position. LPD said the efforts “allowed a young boy a second chance at life.”
Lakewood Police said its drone team, which started in 2018, has assisted in many capacities including search and rescue missions, evidence searches, traffic accident and crime scene documentation, locating suspects and victims, providing situational awareness to other agents and partnering with the SWAT team during tactical operations.
“Without the use of the drone on this call, agents may not have located the teen in time to save his life,” the police department said.