Preparedness
Robot Heroics: Texas Standoff Ends with High-Tech Takedown
There’s a new high-tech hero in the realm of law enforcement. A police bomb squad robot recently played a pivotal role in subduing an armed suspect during a tense standoff in Texas.
The incident involved 39-year-old Felix Delarosa, who had a warrant out for his arrest due to a parole violation. According to KCBD, Delarosa had tampered with his electronic monitoring device.
Around 10 a.m. on a Wednesday, members of the Texas Anti-Gang unit located Delarosa at a Days Inn hotel in Lubbock. When officers attempted to approach him, Delarosa, who was armed, fired a shot from inside his hotel room.
In response, the officers called in the Lubbock County Sheriff’s SWAT team for assistance.
Negotiations with Delarosa proved challenging as he fired additional shots while barricaded in his room. Amid the exchange, the room’s large glass window was shattered.
To mitigate further risk to law enforcement, the Lubbock Regional Bomb Squad deployed a robot to handle the situation. The robot approached Delarosa’s hotel room, and the suspect attempted to disable it by throwing a bed sheet over it, which proved ineffective.
The robot advanced towards the broken window, prompting Delarosa to shoot at it. In a tactical move, the robot retaliated by deploying tear gas into the room.
Footage shows Delarosa crawling out of the room, visibly disoriented from the tear gas.
As he struggled on the ground, the robot maneuvered on top of him, pinning him down. During this action, the robot’s wheels inadvertently pulled down the suspect’s pants.
SWAT team members then swiftly moved in and apprehended Delarosa, concluding the two-hour standoff.
Following his capture, Delarosa was transported to University Medical Center for treatment of his injuries before being booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center.
He now faces charges of aggravated assault against a public servant.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice noted that Delarosa had previously been sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2017 for manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. He was released on parole in April 2022.
This incident demonstrates the growing role of technology in law enforcement, showcasing how robotic assistance can effectively and safely manage high-risk situations.
Watch a video about the incident below:
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