Petaluma Police Use Drone In 'High-Risk' Stop, Make Drug Arrest

PETALUMA, CA — A report about a person with a gun in Petaluma led to an arrest for methamphetamine, police said.

Officers were dispatched shortly after midnight Monday morning to the 1300 block of North McDowell Boulevard where a man reportedly brandished a gun before taking off in a car.

Once officers located the car in the 5100 block of Old Redwood Highway, they conducted a "high-risk" traffic stop, Petaluma police Lt. Zilverio Rivera said.

"During the initial high-risk stop, an unmanned aerial system (commonly referred to as a drone) operated by a trained PPD officer, was deployed to minimize the risk of harm to officers or the public, enhance situational awareness, and facilitate a more effective and safe response," Rivera said.

Officers detained the female driver and her male passenger.

The man, later identified as John Gillette Jr., 40, of New York, was positively identified as the person seen with the gun, Rivera said.

Officers did not find a gun in the car or Gillette's possession. However, they received consent to search the car and found a large quantity of methamphetamine and paraphernalia associated with possession for the intent to sell, Rivera said.

Gillette was arrested and booked at the Sonoma County jail on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance for sale. Jail records indicated he was no longer in custody as of Thursday.

The woman driving the car was released from the scene and did not face charges, Rivera said.