Somerset County Deputies Use Drone Technology to Locate Person Who Fled Into Woods
Somerset County, MD - Somerset County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a Westover home Friday morning to serve a court-ordered Petition for Emergency Evaluation, but the situation quickly took a turn when the person named in the petition ran into the woods.
The incident happened on May 8, 2026, at around 10:00 a.m. at a residence in Westover, Maryland. When deputies arrived and made contact with the individual, the person immediately fled on foot into a nearby densely wooded area.
Deputies moved quickly to set up a perimeter around the area. The goal was to safely contain the individual while search operations got underway.
To help locate the person, the Sheriff's Office brought in its unmanned aerial system, commonly known as a UAS or drone. The drone was equipped with thermal imaging technology, which allowed deputies to scan the heavily wooded terrain efficiently and safely from above.
It did not take long before deputies spotted the individual hiding within the wooded area. After verbal commands were given, the person complied, exited the woods with hands raised, and was taken into protective custody without any further incident.
Following the court order, the individual was transported to TidalHealth Peninsula Regional for evaluation and treatment.
The Somerset County Sheriff's Office praised the teamwork of responding deputies and pointed to the successful use of drone technology as a key factor in bringing the situation to a safe and peaceful resolution.
It is worth noting that the Somerset County Sheriff's Office maintains FAA-certified Part 107 UAS pilots and holds all required waivers for drone operations within Somerset County, Maryland. This means the agency is fully authorized and trained to use this kind of technology when situations call for it.
Friday's response is a good example of how law enforcement agencies are using modern tools to handle sensitive situations while keeping everyone involved as safe as possible.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
