Infrared imaging used to find fugitive in El Paso County

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) said airborne infrared imaging technology was used to find an escaped inmate in El Paso County on Friday, June 7.

CSP said emergency operations require responders to move quickly and as safely as possible and infrared imaging technology is one tool CSP uses with its Aircraft Unit to collect information for law enforcement.

On Friday, the CSP Aircraft Unit responded to El Paso County to help law enforcement and U.S. Marshalls in the area of I-25 and Woodmen Road to search for 45-year-old Kegan VanVliet who had escaped from the Fremont County Jail.

The aircraft crew arrived after dark and using the onboard infrared imaging system searched the area. VanVliet’s vehicle was found abandoned in a parking lot and likely on foot.

VanVliet was found walking away from a location provided to law enforcement by a citizen tip. The flight team tracked VanVliet while law enforcement on the ground was directed to his location.

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said VanVliet was found in the 5800 block of North Nevada, near Pulpit Rock Park, when officers closed in on his location VanVliet allegedly ran. K9 Officer Lofgren and K9 Riggs were in the area and ordered VanVliet to stop, “or he would be bit,” after which VanVliet stopped and complied with officer commands, according to CSPD. VanVliet was taken into custody without further incident.

CSP said infrared imaging systems have become a popular tool for emergency responders. The cameras can see heat, which allows emergency responders to see in complete darkness and other low-light conditions including:

• Search and rescue: Thermal imaging systems can be used to search for missing persons or victims of natural disasters in areas that are dark or obscured by smoke or dust.
• Patrol: Officers on patrol can use thermal imaging systems to detect people or vehicles hidden from view by darkness or vegetation.
• Crime scene investigation: Thermal imaging systems can detect evidence at crime scenes, such as blood, shell casings, and ditched evidence like guns or other incriminating evidence that would not be visible to the naked eye.

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