SACRAMENTO, California -- Sacramento County Sheriff's Office officials say a drone equipped with a magnet was used to disarm an armed suspect during a recent SWAT operation, a tactic the agency believes may be a first-of-its-kind deployment in the United States.

According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, members of the Special Enforcement Detail (SWAT) had surrounded a residence while attempting to apprehend a known felon and parolee-at-large who had previously been observed with a firearm.

After the suspect failed to respond to negotiators, deputies deployed a drone inside the residence to gather intelligence and assess the situation. Drone operators located the suspect concealed in a corner of a garage. Authorities said one of the suspect's hands was hidden beneath his body while the other was holding a knife. The suspect was alive but unresponsive, creating uncertainty about whether he was incapacitated or waiting to ambush approaching deputies.

Rather than immediately sending personnel into the confined space, a drone pilot developed an alternative approach to reduce the risk to deputies and the suspect. By attaching a magnet to the drone, the operator successfully removed the knife from the suspect's hand before deputies entered the area.

The suspect was subsequently taken into custody, bringing the incident to a safe resolution without the use of force.

Sheriff's officials highlighted the incident as an example of how unmanned aircraft systems can support tactical operations by providing real-time intelligence and reducing the need for deputies to enter potentially dangerous environments. The agency said the technology can help improve officer safety while creating additional opportunities to resolve high-risk incidents peacefully.