Schertz PD were able to use a drone from a neighboring community’s police department equipped with thermal imaging to detain Derrick Escobar.
SCHERTZ, Texas — When her social media accounts turned frantic late Monday night, Schertz resident Darlene Jones said she started paying careful attention to a violent incident going on right outside her door.
“I heard boom, boom, boom! Loud! Right here at my window,” Jones said of the commotion caused by law enforcement efforts to catch a wanted man.
Schertz police confirmed they were pursuing Derrick Escobar, allegedly involved in three armed robbery attempts at a nearby H-E-B grocery store.
Jones said she and her mom, who uses a walker to get around, scurried around in the dark, trying to avoid the commotion they heard circling about their house.
“He must have jumped my fence,” Jones said as the noise surrounded her.
Jones said in addition to social media, she started monitoring a number of surveillance cameras she has mounted on her home.
“I was watching my cameras,” Jones said, adding one of them offered crystal-clear audio of the conflict in her yard.
“I heard someone say, ‘I’m hit!’ and, ‘Help! Help! Help!’” Jones said, adding she found comfort when a police officer insistently knocked on her door to make sure she was OK. “She was awesome! I didn’t know if I should come out or if it was real or what.”
Reviewing video posted by a number of neighbors, Jones said it was scary to see the armed man march around the neighborhood while firing random shots and appearing to talk to himself in a way that was at times unintelligible.
“I’m going to cry,” Jones said, speaking emotionally as she talked about the police efforts. “They did a great job. They were amazing. I was scared to death!”
Running into danger
Neighbor Steven Holden, who lives one block away on Candleberry, said his wife woke him up when she heard gunfire close by around midnight.
“There are a lot of veterans that live here and in 12 years I’ve seen no craziness,” Holden said of the surprise turn of events in their otherwise peaceful area.
Agreeing that the response of law enforcement was appreciated, Holden said, “I was remarkably impressed with their response time and some of the gear they used to catch the guy like a thermal drone.”
Of the gunman, a military veteran, Holden said, “I heard he’s a veteran, so that’s sad, one of our brothers in arms. They’re suffering. I hope he gets the help he needs, of course.”
While he expressed gratitude, Holden said he hopes the man will be held accountable.
“I feel bad for him, but then again you don’t feel bad because you can’t be walking the neighborhood shooting up the place.”
Assistant Police Chief Phillip Waller said he was proud of the quick response his officers mounted, first at the grocery store and then moving into the nearby neighborhood.
“The officers were able to connect the dots and they were able to determine one case was related to another and they approached the shooting scene with care,” Waller said. “They showed restraint in dealing with the armed subject and thankfully everything ended peacefully with no injuries on either side.”
Declining to discuss many details to preserve the integrity of the case, Waller said, “They did actually hear gunshots when they got there on scene. They did not have an eye on the subject, but they could hear the shots coming and they zeroed in on him.”
Waller said the officers ran right into danger.
“They were able to talk to him and fortunately he did put down the firearm and he did surrender.”
Waller said he’s very proud of the response by his team.
“We’ve read of many cases throughout the nation the past couple of years where things don’t always turn out this way and I’m very proud they did use their training and experience to end this peacefully.”
He added he was grateful they are able to move forward in the investigation with help from good neighbors.
“Our message to the community is that this was a one-time thing. The threat is contained. There’s not an ongoing danger. We are still actively investigating the case and looking for evidence and talking to neighbors,” Waller said, adding he was very thankful for the help of Cibolo PD, who provided a drone to help with the search for the gunman.
A device ‘transforming policing’
Rick Mireles, the public information officer for Cibolo PD, said the drone is a critical asset that gives officers a birds-eye view.
“This is really transforming policing,” he said. “It started out as a curious novelty, but just recently in the past two years is where it has really taken off.”
Mireles said Cibolo PD has had their drone program for the last five years. He said the drone they have now is more advanced, even equipped with thermal imaging.
“We are able to send in a mechanical asset, versus a dog or even a person,” Mireles said. “So we don’t have to put a life in danger.”
Seven Cibolo PD police officers are trained to operate a drone, which has become a vital tool in local police operations.
“Before we had those assets we would have to send those officers into potentially dangerous situations,” Mireles said. “Going in, proverbially blind with what they can just see in front of them. Now, with this technology providing that overhead view, we have somebody watching above spotting where that suspect is.”
In various situations, one officer operates the drone while another communicates the movements of the suspect to the other officers.
“It is really a dynamic integrated operation,” Mireles said.
Authorities say Escobar may have been experiencing a mental health crisis, adding he was taken to a local hospital or facility for an emergency detention just hours before the pursuit. Police couldn’t say why he was discharged from the medical facility.
Online records indicate that, once the commotion was all over, Escobar was charged with three counts of aggravated robbery and impersonating a public servant, as well as one count each of deadly conduct and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
His bonds total $440,000.
While their suspect is in custody, Waller said they are still asking residents in the area to check for any damage that may have gone unseen during the nighttime hours. They said anyone with damage or evidence related to the attack should call Detective McMath at (210) 619-1241.