A burglary suspect on parole pleaded not guilty to multiple charges Friday after a drone-assisted investigation led to his arrest.
Eugene Kirkwood, 41, entered not guilty pleas to felony counts of vandalism over $400 and burglary Friday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, in addition to a misdemeanor count of possessing burglary tools, according to case records.
Kirkwood is due back in court for a felony settlement conference on March 17.
Palm Springs Police Department personnel received a report of a burglary shortly before 4:55 p.m. Wednesday in the 2300 block of Girasol Avenue, according to a department statement released Thursday afternoon.
Arriving officers established a perimeter around the residence, finding evidence that led them to believe that the front door had been “forcibly opened,” the department said.
After officers made multiple announcements and didn’t receive a response, they deployed a drone to assist with the search, according to the statement. The drone did not find the suspect but did locate multiple closed doors, which police investigated further.
At that point, officers sent a dog into the residence. Police said Kirkwood “emerged from hiding with his hands raised” seconds after and complied with the officers’ commands.
Kirkwood, whom the department said was already on active parole for first-degree burglary, was taken into custody at the Larry Smyth Correctional Facility in Banning, according to inmate records.