Sacramento County deputies employed a drone equipped with a magnet to disarm a suspect in what authorities described as a first-of-its-kind tactic in the United States. The incident occurred earlier this month during an operation to apprehend a parolee-at-large wanted on felony charges who was believed to be armed.

According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, members of its Special Enforcement Detail, or SWAT unit, surrounded the suspect’s residence after receiving information that he had been seen carrying a firearm. Efforts by negotiators to establish contact with the man were unsuccessful, prompting the decision to deploy a small drone inside the home to evaluate the situation.

Video released by the sheriff’s office shows the drone navigating through the dimly lit interior of a cluttered garage, where it located the suspect lying motionless in a corner. The man had one arm beneath his body while clutching a knife with the other. Deputies indicated it was unclear whether the suspect was unconscious, feigning incapacitation, or preparing to ambush officers who entered.

Using the drone, deputies were able to attach a magnet to the weapon and remove it from the suspect’s grasp without putting officers at immediate risk. This innovative approach allowed law enforcement to proceed with the arrest more safely.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office characterized the use of the drone with a magnet as a pioneering move in law enforcement tactics, highlighting it as a novel method for disarming potentially dangerous individuals remotely. No injuries were reported during the arrest, and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.