Video: Calif. Deputies Use Drone to Find Suspect Hiding in a Haystack

A suspect accused of assaulting a woman thought he had found the perfect hiding place, but Placer County sheriff's deputies used a drone to uncover the man inside a large haystack in a barn.
July 16, 2026
2 min read
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What to Know

  • Placer County sheriff's deputies used a drone to find a domestic violence suspect hiding inside a large haystack in a barn after an overnight search over the weekend.
  • The suspect, Adam Armbruster, fled before deputies arrived in response to a woman screaming for help Saturday night.
  • After being spotted by the drone, Armbruster climbed down from the haystack and was arrested on felony domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon charges after surrending to deputies.

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Finding a needle in a haystack might be an exercise in futility, but what about uncovering a fleeing suspect?

Florida deputies apprehended a man accused of assaulting a woman in a domestic violence incident over the weekend after using a drone to find him in a large haystack in a barn.

The arrest happened late Saturday when the Placer County Sheriff's Office received a call from a woman screaming for help, the agency stated in a social media post that included drone and body camera footage of the incident. The suspect—later identified as Adam Armbruster—had fled the scene by the time deputies arrived, kicking off an overnight search of the area.

The agency's Special Enforcement Team was called in, and deputies determined that Armbruster was probably hiding near his home. Following a search of the suspect's residence, deputies deployed a drone to check out a nearby property.

The drone flew into a barn just before 2 p.m., and Armbruster was found hiding inside a large haystack. Footage from the incident appears to show Armbruster waving at the drone once he was discovered.

Armbruster climbed down from the haystack and surrendered to deputies. He was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence and felony assault with a deadly weapon. 

No word if a needle also was found with the suspect.

About the Author

Joe Vince
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Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.
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