Lawrence County deputies locate wanted man using drone technology

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Lawrence County deputies used drone technology to find a wanted man hiding under a pile of leaves.

It all began with a traffic stop where the passenger in the car bailed before the deputy could approach the vehicle.

Deputies will later learn the man they are chasing is Joshua Harold Long, 42.

He’s a convicted felon who was sentenced to eight years of probation with the Tennessee Department of Corrections after a 2019 conviction on methamphetamine charges.

“When someone bails out of a vehicle, there is a reason,” Lawrence County Sheriff John Myers said.

Body camera footage from deputies showed them searching for the 42-year-old in a woman’s garage and attic. When he was not located there, they moved to a large wooded area.

While deputies entered the woods, the Lawrence County Emergency Management Agency quickly launched a drone and put it up overhead.

“We never probably would have caught this guy as quick as we did without the drone,” Myers said.

Video from the drone shows the woods and forest floor covered with leaves.

There is no visible sign of Long.

“And one of the deputies walks right past him — doesn’t see him — because he is covered with leaves,” Myers said.

But when the FLIR Camera — which monitors body heat — is switched on, the suspect’s location is readily visible.

“The second deputy sees one of his shoes sticking out of the leaves and says, ‘There he is.’ He said, ‘Let me see your hands.’ He said there were two hands that just kind of rose up out of the leaves,” Myers said with a smile.

Deputies also found meth nearby.

“Meth doesn’t miraculously appear out in the woods,” Myers said.

Once in cuffs, Long explained why he ran.

“Did you think you were going to get away?” a deputy asked.

“I was hoping,” Long responded.

“You know what hope does, man,” the deputy responded.

The sheriff’s message is this: “Give up peacefully, that is all we want. Give up peacefully, don’t run.”

Long was already wanted on probation violation, and now he’s also charged with evading arrest and possession of meth.

Myers thanked the county’s EMA office for operating the drone during this operation.