RCMP drone used to rescue pair who fled from shooter into Sask. woods and got lost

Saskatchewan RCMP say a drone was instrumental when two people needed rescue from a forested area on a dark night in frigid temperatures. 

The Prince Albert detachment got a report of a man being chased by a person with a weapon in the RM of Buckland around 3 a.m. on Jan. 7, RCMP said in a news release.

Officers determined a man and a woman had fled into the forest to get away from a man with a gun, after they were assaulted and shot at. Both became lost.

The drone was "incredibly important, to be able to get an aerial view with thermal imaging,” said Staff Sgt. Steve Hurst.

They located the man with the drone and gave him verbal instructions to guide him out of the forest using the compass on his phone. They also used a spotlight on the drone to light his path, and activated their police vehicle’s lights and sirens so he could locate them when he got close enough.

"Ground searches, guided by the aerial view from the drone, led to officers locating the woman in an SUV in a remote location … As a result of investigation, Prince Albert RCMP used snowmobiles to reach the victim and safely get her to an ambulance that was waiting at the scene," the news release said.

Both people were taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

“They were extremely happy to be located,” Hurst said.

“Not knowing exactly where they were, the injuries could have been much more serious, whether it was due to exposure, and could have potentially been fatal depending on how long they would have been out there exposed to the elements."

Investigation into the Jan. 7 shooting led to an arrest warrant for 30-year-old Justin Charles of Prince Albert. He's charged with 10 offences, including two counts of assault, pointing a firearm and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Hurst said Saskatchewan is the only province to have a drone in every detachment. Five members of the Prince Albert detachment are trained and certified to use drone technology.

“There's no doubt in my mind that the use of these drones is saving lives on a daily basis, and not just in Saskatchewan, but I think across the country, by us and a variety of other emergency response personnel,” said Const. Colin Lush, a drone training instructor.

He said the machines' thermal imaging works well in cold weather and is a real asset to officers on the ground who are hindered by deep snow and freezing cold.

The type used in the rescue can flash red and blue lights and carry a loudspeaker to play audio messages. Lush said the spotlight, thermal imaging and speaker have been used in a variety of missing persons searches and criminal pursuits.