SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – A man is in custody after Santa Fe police say he stole a truck and ran from police. Thanks to the help of the department’s drone program, he was arrested within minutes of police receiving the call.

“Santa Fe Police, let me see your hands,” said a Santa Police Officer while pursuing the suspect down a Santa Fe alley.

It took police only 15 minutes to arrest a Santa Fe native, Rigoberto Rodriguez, after police say he stole a 1994 Chevrolet truck on the morning of December 31. The Santa Fe Police Department (SFPD) received a call from a man who said he saw the stolen truck on Cerrillos Road. Officers located the vehicle, confirmed the vehicle was stolen, and attempted to complete a traffic stop.

That’s when police say the driver, who was identified as Rodriguez, fled from officers in the vehicle. Then, SFPD launched their drone to help find the truck. Once the operator located the vehicle, he saw two passengers leave the car on Gallegos Drive and take off running on foot into a nearby neighborhood. The operator described the two passengers to the on-the-ground officer, who arrested Rodriguez.

An officer can be heard in the lapel video saying, “Show me your hands” and, “Stay where you are.”

Rodriguez was booked into the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center later that day. The Chevy truck was processed and taken for evidence. Rodriguez is now facing charges of evading a police officer, transferring or receiving a stolen vehicle, and aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer.

SFPD launched its drone program in July 2023.