A suspected drink driver was arrested after he was spotted lying in a bush by a police drone.
Officers were called to Flawforth Lane, Ruddington, shortly before 5am on Saturday when a car was found lying in a ditch with its airbags deployed.
With no occupants to be seen, officers began a search of the area to find the driver and ensure they were safe.
A police drone was then called in to conduct a search of nearby farmland, and soon spotted a figure lying in a bush on the edge of a field.
When officers on the ground were directed to his location they found and arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of drink driving.
He was later released on police bail and investigations continue.
Sergeant Vince Saunders, chief drone pilot at Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“This is another excellent example of what our drone pilots can achieve when working in partnership with officers on the ground.
“This suspect could really have been anywhere in a very large area but was soon identified with the use of a thermal imaging camera.
“On this occasion that has not only helped us to detain a suspect, but also to preserve vital evidence in a timely and efficient manner.”
Nottinghamshire Police’s drones team is made up of 13 officers who combine their regular duties with aerial shifts.
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