A tense hostage situation at a Mercantile Bank branch in Saginaw Township on Friday evening concluded with the fatal shooting of the suspect, a resolution brought about by the strategic use of a police drone to deliver a bottle of soda.
The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Quinton Allen, had taken a 40-year-old female employee hostage inside the bank located on State Street. After hours of negotiation, law enforcement officials deployed a drone, operated by the Saginaw Township Police Department, to deliver a Faygo Redpop soda that Allen had requested.
According to the Michigan State Police (MSP), the drone was used as a tactical lure. As the drone approached a glass pane of the bank with the beverage, Allen moved into view, providing a clear line of sight for an MSP trooper. The trooper fired a single shot, fatally wounding Allen.
"The drone was used to draw the suspect into view through a pane of glass, at which point a trooper was able to take a shot," MSP officials stated to Mid-Michigan NOW.
The hostage was rescued from the scene and transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. She has since been released.
Saginaw Township Police Chief Scott Malace confirmed that his department operated the drone and has turned over all captured imagery to MSP investigators, who are leading the ongoing investigation into the incident.
The Mercantile Bank location, described on its website as a virtual branch and lending office, remained closed on Monday following the incident.
Further reports indicate that Allen was armed with a sharp object, not a firearm, and the situation began after he was unable to cash a fraudulent check at the already-closed bank.
This incident highlights the increasingly innovative ways law enforcement agencies are utilizing drone technology in critical situations, not only for surveillance but also for direct interaction and tactical resolution.
This report is based on information provided by Mid-Michigan NOW and other local news sources.