Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - Rochester police took an assault suspect into custody Thursday and are giving some of the credit in making the arrest to body and surveillance cameras.

Captain John Sherwin says a 36-year-old Rochester man was found knocked out on a downtown sidewalk early Sunday. There were no witnesses and officers called to the scene in the area of 1st Ave and 3rd St SW weren’t sure what had happened. They later reviewed recordings from surveillance cameras and determined the man had been punched and knocked to the ground.

Sherwin says they also recognized the man who punched the victim as someone they had contact with Saturday night. A review of an officer’s body camera helped lead to the identification of 28-year-old Michael Brooks. He was arrested on a felony assault charge.

A different camera was used to make another arrest Thursday.

A Rochester Fire Department tool helped police locate a man who tried hiding in an attic. Officers went to a residence to look for 26-year-old Matthew Marquette, who was wanted for probation violations.

Marquette hid in the attic before officers could apprehend him. Officers were convinced he was in the attic but could see him. They contacted the fire department and a thermal imaging camera was brought to the scene and it detected Marquette hiding under some insulation. He was taken into custody without incident.

The cameras are normally used when firefighters are trying to determine if a person is in a burning structure. They can also detect fire hot spots.

 

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