An attempt by police in Texas to hold a secret test of spy drones was foiled by a local TV station, which tracked the unmanned aerial vehicles, forcing law enforcement officials to disclose some of their plans.
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Neighbors in rural Waller County said they thought a top-secret military venture was under way among the farmland and ranches, some 70 miles northwest of Houston. KPRC Local 2 Investigates had four hidden cameras aimed at a row of mysterious black trucks. Satellite dishes and a swirling radar added to the neighbors' suspense. *
*Then, cameras were rolling as an unmanned aircraft was launched into the sky and operated by remote control. *
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*Houston police cars were surrounding the land with a roadblock in place to check each of the dignitaries arriving for the invitation-only event. The invitation spelled out, "NO MEDIA ALLOWED." *
*HPD Chief Harold Hurtt attended, along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and dozens of officers from various police agencies in the Houston area. Few of the guests would comment as they left the test site. *
The best part of this story is that -- in true spy vs. spy tradition -- the local news station flew their own helicopter in pursuit of the unmanned aicraft.
"I wasn't ready to publicize this," Executive Assistant Police Chief Martha Montalvo told Local 2.
What would law enforcement use these drones for? Homeland security, catching criminals, and covert surveillance are all possibilities. It also turns out that speeding tickets could be high on the list:
