Charleston, West Virginia – A sheriff’s office drone helped locate and arrest an armed domestic violence suspect near Yeager Airport on Thursday, reducing risk to responding deputies.
According to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to Conner Drive in Charleston on February 19 in reference to an active domestic violence situation.
Upon arrival, deputies learned that Anthony Clark, 48, allegedly assaulted his wife and was armed with a firearm. Authorities said Clark fled the residence on foot before deputies reached the scene, entering a nearby wooded area.
Detective Payne deployed the Sheriff’s Office drone, which located Clark in the wooded terrain. The drone provided real-time updates on Clark’s movements and directed deputies and a K9 unit to his position, according to the sheriff’s office.
When deputies approached and issued commands, Clark allegedly dropped his firearm and surrendered without incident. Officials said the drone deployment significantly reduced the possibility of Clark ambushing responding personnel.
The incident occurred in close proximity to the runway at Charleston Yeager International Airport, requiring coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and the airport’s air traffic control tower to safely deploy the drone.
Clark has been charged with Domestic Battery and Prohibited Person with a Firearm. He was arraigned in Kanawha County Magistrate Court, where a $5,000 cash-only bond was set.
The case remains under court proceedings. Anyone arrested is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
This incident may be of particular interest to residents in the Yeager Airport and Conner Drive area due to the temporary law enforcement activity nearby.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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