Drone tracks down 5 teens caught throwing 'large' rocks onto highway: sheriff

MONROE, N.C. (WNCN) -- Deputies in North Carolina used a drone Friday night to track down suspects they say were throwing rocks from an overpass onto the toll highway below it. There were several reports of at least two people throwing "large rocks off a bridge" onto the expressway, U.S. 74, below, according to the Union County Sheriff's Office.

"Deputies arrived and located a semi-truck and trailer that had been struck by one of the rocks causing significant damage to the roof of the truck and the front side of the trailer," deputies said in a news release.

Deputies then launched a drone with infrared technology to search the area.

During the drone's flight, deputies "located several distinct heat signatures hiding near the on-ramp to the expressway," the news release said.

Two suspects were initially caught before a perimeter was set up and three more were captured.

The five suspects range from 13 to 15 years old, deputies said.

All five suspects will now face criminal charges for their actions via petitions issued by the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice.

“Throwing large rocks off of a bridge at commercial motor vehicles traveling on the Monroe Expressway could have seriously injured or killed one of the drivers who were just trying to work hard and provide for their families," Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey said in the release.