Latest news with #Mangual
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Clermont police looking to expand drone program
Leaders within the Clermont Police Department are already talking about ways to expand the agency's fledgling drone program after finding quick success with its small team. The department first launched its two American-made drones last year after years of training and delays due to changing regulations, including a ban on the more cost-effective Chinese-made drones. Their first success was a search-and-rescue where someone had broken their leg. They've since tracked down burglars and bike thieves, watched over standoffs and assessed hurricane damage. One of the six pilots analyzed his flights and found that a third of all his launches resulted in a major contribution toward the case's resolution, according to a late-April report to commanders. 'It's changing the game,' said pilot and detective Jonathan Mangual. Mangual showed off the capabilities of his drone, which included the ability to exceed 30 mph, maneuver around objects on its own and give voice commands, which other officers jokingly described as something out of a 'Robocop' scene. The department made sure the chosen pilots were spread out geographically and on different shifts so that the drones would always be available to fly. 'It's been really, really effective,' Capt. Malcom Draper said. 'We're doing our homework. We know we're doing our research. We're trying to look at these advances of technology, and we're trying to utilize them.' Mangual also talked about where drones could help the department in the future. He described scenarios of drones launching from the police department's roof to analyze scenes remotely before officers arrive, and – in the more immediate future – using indoor drones in tense situations like standoffs or potential ambushes so officers aren't put in harm's way. 'I think every department should get one, just for officer safety,' Mangual said. 'If we could get to someone and get to the scene first and get that feedback to officers, it's going to definitely change the game.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Yahoo
Holyoke police arrest man, seize firearm after student enticement allegation
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – A Chicopee man was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly attempting to lure a high school student into his vehicle, leading Holyoke police to seize a loaded firearm and a significant quantity of drugs, authorities said. According to Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan, School Resource Officer Manny Rivera received a report around 7:50 a.m. from a student who said they had been approached by a man in a white pickup truck near Oak and West Franklin streets. The student told police that the driver attempted to persuade them to enter the vehicle. Officers immediately launched a search and, within 30 minutes, located the unoccupied truck on Franklin Street. They identified the vehicle's owner and later tracked down the suspect, 33-year-old Justin Mangual of Chicopee, inside an apartment on Maple Street. While conducting a sweep of the apartment, officers discovered approximately 100 vials of crack cocaine. Upon receiving permission to search the truck, they also recovered a loaded rifle. Authorities said Mangual did not have a driver's license or a license to carry a firearm. Mangual, who has a prior conviction for possession of a firearm without an FID card, was placed under arrest and charged with: Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle Carrying a Firearm without an FID Card – Subsequent Offense Chief Keenan praised the student for quickly alerting school staff, calling their response critical in leading officers to the suspect. 'I want to commend this student who, in a traumatic situation, immediately alerted staff of this incident,' Keenan said. 'Without that quick intervention and the ensuing actions by our responding police officers, we would not have been able to locate this suspect as quickly as we did.' He also credited School Resource Officer Rivera for building trust with students, which helped ensure a swift response. Holyoke police detectives are continuing to investigate the allegations of enticement and the narcotics found in the apartment. Additional charges could follow. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
