RENO, NV — Reno police say a call about possible utility tampering at a vacant duplex on Vine Street turned into three arrests after two people ran when officers arrived. A department drone followed the pair to a nearby McDonald’s, where responding officers detained them and ended the short foot chase.
The Reno Police Department said the investigation began on Oct. 15 after the property owner reported unauthorized people inside the duplex. Utility companies had identified suspected tampering with the water and electrical systems, prompting officers to look closer at the property and the surrounding structures.
How the investigation started at the Vine Street property
According to the police department, officers discovered that several people were living in the duplex and a detached garage without the owner’s permission. That finding expanded the case beyond a simple trespassing complaint and gave investigators reason to check the full property.
Police said the initial concerns came from the combination of the owner’s report and the utility companies’ warning signs. The department has not said how long the people had been inside the buildings, but it did say the property was vacant at the time officers responded.
Once officers reached the scene, two people bolted. The department said the fleeing suspects did not get far before a drone operator was able to keep eyes on them and guide officers to their location nearby.
Drone surveillance led officers to a nearby McDonald’s
The Reno Police Department said an officer using a drone tracked the two runners to a McDonald’s close to the duplex. That gave officers on the ground a way to find and detain the pair without losing them in the area around the property.
Police described the incident as an example of how technology and teamwork can help officers locate people trying to avoid contact with law enforcement. The department did not identify which McDonald’s was involved, only that it was nearby.
The use of the drone became a key part of the arrest because it kept officers aware of where the suspects had gone after leaving the property. In the department’s telling, the technology helped close the gap quickly once the two people fled on foot.
Three people face unlawful occupancy charges
Police identified the people arrested as 53-year-old Joseph Allen, 44-year-old Benjamin Moreno, and 46-year-old Melissa Johnson. All three were booked into the Washoe County Jail and face unlawful occupancy charges.
Allen also had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant, according to the department. Police did not say whether the warrant was related to the duplex investigation or a separate matter.
The arrests came after officers pieced together the unauthorized occupancy at the property and detained the people who had been inside. The department said the case involved both the vacant duplex and a detached garage on the same property.
Police say suspected drugs were found during the search
During the investigation, officers also found and seized suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, and prescription medication, the Reno Police Department said. Police did not say who specifically possessed the substances or whether separate drug charges were filed.
The department linked the seizure to the broader property investigation, which started with concerns about unauthorized occupants and possible tampering with utility systems. The discovery added another layer to what began as a complaint about a vacant home.
Authorities did not provide additional details about the quantities of the suspected drugs or the prescription medication that was recovered. The department’s statement focused instead on the arrests and the evidence collected at the scene.
Why police say the case matters to the city
Reno police framed the case as more than a simple trespassing incident, pointing to suspected tampering, unauthorized occupancy, and the attempted flight from officers. The department said the response showed how multiple tools and units can work together during a fast-moving investigation.
The agency also emphasized the practical role of technology in everyday policing. In this case, the drone helped officers stay connected to the suspects after they ran from the duplex, which allowed the encounter to end with arrests rather than a longer search.
For property owners, the case is a reminder that vacant buildings can draw unwanted activity and require outside intervention. For police, the department said, the outcome demonstrated that a report from a property owner and a utility company can quickly develop into a broader criminal investigation.
