Thermal imaging drone helps locate suspect after high speed chase

Drone footage of arrest / Dade County Sheriff’s Office

DADE COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — The Dade County Sheriff’s Office said they arrested a man Monday night using a thermal imaging drone.

A man was speeding on I-24 West in Dade County on February 26 around 11 p.m. Deputies said the man was headed toward Marion County, and they attempted to pull over the car. The vehicle then increased speeds to approximately 125 mph, according to the sheriff’s office.

Authorities said the man tried to take the Haletown exit and crashed into a guardrail. This caused extensive damage and airbag deployment.

They said the man then fled his car and ran into the woods. Deputies said they then found a gun and extended magazine in the driver’s side floorboard of the suspect’s car.

Additional Dade County deputies arrived, and they used a drone to look for the suspect.

The sheriff’s office said they searched for about 15 to 20 minutes and found the man trying to swim across a body of water. They found him using the drone’s thermal imaging and then took him into custody.

Drone footage of arrest / Dade County Sheriff’s Office

They identified the suspect as Ringgold resident Jeremiah Johnson.

He faces charges for the firearm and fleeing from deputies. But he also had active warrants from Hamilton County, Tennessee for aggravated assault, and for drug trafficking in Catoosa County, Georgia.

The sheriff’s office said the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol and Chattanooga Police Department assisted in the incident.