A Montgomery County jury convicted 45-year-old Jovan Ali of Fairfax, Va. this week of first-degree assault in connection with a stabbing in downtown Silver Spring last April.
The Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office announced on Friday that the conviction marks the first from a jury trial related to the Police Department's Drone as a First Responder (DFR) Program.
On April 17, Ali was involved in an altercation with another individual at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Sligo Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. The Raven 1 drone recorded Ali pulling a knife from his pocket and stabbing an adult male in the shoulder area (video below).
A Montgomery County Police officer also witnessed the incident, and while the victim's injuries were not life-threatening, he still required surgery.
"The drone video evidence in this case was critical for the State," said Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy. We would not have been able to prove the defendant's guilt without it. The value of this technology is immeasurable when it comes to public safety. It is a game-changer within the criminal justice system. We are grateful to Montgomery County Police for their advocacy and implementation of the Drone as a First Responder program."
McCarthy's office said in a press release that the Drone as a First Responder program uses drones at crime scenes, enabling officers to monitor situations, gather evidence, and coordinate responses, all while enhancing safety and improving response times.
MCPD launched the DFR program last November and has previously assisted in the arrests of repeat shoplifters and suspects involved in office sledgehammer attacks. Police chose Silver Spring and Wheaton for the DFR program's launch due to high service calls for burglaries, assaults, and other offenses.
"The Drone as First Responder program has proven to be a transformative tool for the Montgomery County Police Department," said Captain Nicholas Picerno, who leads the MCPD's Special Operations Division. "It allows us to respond more quickly, enhance situational awareness, and ultimately increase the safety of officers and community members."
"In this case, the drone footage was invaluable in securing the conviction," Picerno added. "This technology is a major asset to our operations, providing capabilities that were previously unimaginable. This is another example of how officers, supplied with real-time intelligence, make better-informed decisions."
In recent years, the use of police drones has become a significant topic of discussion throughout the region, with some raising concerns about privacy.
During an August Maryland Association of Counties session, drone supporters acknowledged these concerns during a panel discussion. They explained that while they understand the apprehension, drones can help police departments optimize their resources and enhance their response times while implementing safeguards to protect people's privacy rights.
McCarthy told Fox 5 that he believes attitudes towards the program have changed.
"Let me tell you," McCarthy said Friday, "those privacy concerns are over because they see how it works, how it makes them safer."
The Drone as First Responder program is active in downtown Silver Spring and Wheaton and plans to expand to Gaithersburg and Bethesda soon.