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Texas police department to introduce autonomous drone pilot program: 'An eye in the sky'

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Texas police department to introduce autonomous drone pilot program: 'An eye in the sky'

A police department in Texas may soon be using drones to respond to emergency calls, according to Police Chief Brian Jones.

The Bee Cave Police Department offered a demonstration of their autonomous drone system on Friday morning, known as “AV8.”

The demonstration was part of a pilot project to test the AV8, which also consists of a computer system to keep drones on-target. Both are built by eve Vehicles, which is a start-up based in Austin.

GREEN DAY RUSHED OFFSTAGE DURING CONCERT DUE TO UNAUTHORIZED DRONE: POLICE

“Well, it’s a force multiplier for us, really, because it serves as an eye in the sky and gives us real-time information before an officer even arrives at the location,” said Bee Cave Chief of Police Brian Jones to FOX 7 Austin.

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“We’ve gone through several generations,” said eve Vehicles co-founder and CEO Roger Pecina to FOX 7 Austin. “We’ve been working on this specific concept for about two years.”

Batteries for the drones, which are stored onboard, offer around 40 minutes’ flight time.

The autonomous AV8 drones are governed by a computer system created by eve Vehicles in Austin, Texas. (KVUE)

“And when that drone’s battery is running low, it’ll actually call another drone in the network. They’ll come and replace it,” said Pecina to FOX 7 Austin. “And then this one goes to the closest nest to recharge its battery.”

Routes for the drones are pre-programmed along local roads and highways to reach dispatch locations for emergency calls in the pilot program.

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“So, the idea is that once they have the address, they do plug it into AV8 that does all of the calculation to see which drone is close to that call and autonomously leaves, and it goes to the scene without a pilot. It arrives when it’s on scene that’s when the pilot takes control and can move the drone around to get like better views of exactly what’s being developed,” said Pecina to FOX 7 Austin.

RESCUE DRONE HITS BEACHES DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES AS A FLYING LIFEBUOY

From there, video is transmitted directly from the drone back to dispatch, where feed is sent to Bee Cave Police patrol cars and smartphones in real-time.

The AV8 system’s first deployment may take place as soon as next week on limited emergency calls in Bee Cave, which is a suburb of Austin. However, the entire system is not expected to deploy for another month or two.

A future plan is already in the works with eve Vehicles to create a night vision option for the AV8 drones as well as a parachute safety system. The drones are launched from “Nests,” which are open-air platforms.

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Bee Cave Police announced a partnership with eve Vehicles in Austin to launch an autonomous drone program for emergency calls. (KVUE)

Three launch sites, including two local schools, were chosen for the Bee Cave AV8 pilot program. The schools were selected before last Wednesday’s mass shooting at Georgia’s Apalachee High School.

“Say, for instance, the example that you use the school shooter in Georgia, heaven forbid, something like that, were to happen here,” said Police Chief Brian Jones to FOX 7 Austin. “And we had the capabilities, this drone technology capability, we would have that information before the officers even arrive at the scene, so we can better prepare to engage a suspect.”

“We could possibly know their location before the officers arrive, and we could better respond to that situation and possibly save lives,” said Chief Jones to FOX 7 Austin.

There is no official start date for the Bee Cave AV8 pilot program.

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 The Bee Cave Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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Los Angeles, Ca

About 20 detained after armed suspect call sparks LAPD response in Koreatown

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About 20 detained after armed suspect call sparks LAPD response in Koreatown

About 20 people were detained Saturday during a large police response in Los Angeles’ Koreatown after authorities received reports of an armed man threatening people, officials said. Officers responded to the 3400 block of West 8th Street near Kingsley Drive on reports of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police […]

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Los Angeles, Ca

Man found guilty of sex trafficking victim along L.A.’s Figueroa Corridor

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Man found guilty of sex trafficking victim along L.A.’s Figueroa Corridor

A former Riverside County man was found guilty of sex trafficking a female victim and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts along L.A.’s notorious Figueroa Corridor.

Elias Abdul Shabazz, 34, formerly of Perris, was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Prosecutors said Shabazz had led the victim to believe they were in a romantic relationship before he turned physically and sexually violent. He began demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts from May to October of 2021, court documents said.

He carried a handgun with him and, on occasion, was accused of using it to pistol-whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet while threatening to kill her, prosecutors said.

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At trial, the victim said Shabazz demanded that she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds and that she was terrified of the consequences of not meeting that quota. 

She testified that Shabazz compelled her to work in the notorious Figueroa Corridor in South L.A., a dangerous area known for human trafficking and prostitution.

Shabazz had confiscated her identification card, Social Security card and birth certificate. He constantly monitored her cell phone to stop her from communicating with any friends or family.

“He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life, including when she ate, slept and showered,” prosecutors said.

In May 2025, Shabazz was arrested and has remained in federal custody. His last known address at the time was in Washington, D.C.

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On June 26, 2026, Shabazz was found guilty of one count of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, where he faces 15 years to life in prison.

“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”

“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”

Anyone with information about human trafficking can report tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888

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Los Angeles, Ca

Watch Project Angel Food's 'Lead with Love' telethon on KTLA

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Watch Project Angel Food's 'Lead with Love' telethon on KTLA

The star-studded feel-good giveback event of the summer has returned. KTLA 5 is teaming up once again with Project Angel Food for the annual “Lead with Love: Going the Distance” telethon to raise critical funds for medically tailored meals delivered to people living with serious illnesses throughout Los Angeles County. The seventh annual telethon airs […]

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