Law enforcement agencies have been making use of drones to conduct search operations, but a drone has never been used to disarm a suspect until now.
The Sacramento Sheriff’s Office posted footage on Instagram, showing a DJI drone being used for the first time to literally disarm a suspect, thereby reducing the risk of officers getting injured in the operation.
The video highlights how deputies attached a powerful magnet to a string attached to the drone, which helped disarm the suspect who was already incapacitated.
While the sheriff’s department was praised for its creativity, several Instagram users have raised questions about the operation.
First Nationwide Drone Operation to Disarm a Suspect
According to CBS News, the incident occurred on June 18 when officers surrounded a house on Parkway in the south Sacramento area while searching for a wanted parolee-at-large.
Since the suspect was seen with a firearm, the sheriff’s office did not take any chances by putting an officer’s life on the line through a potential shootout.
Instead, a drone was used to disarm him. Footage posted on the social media platform shows a deputy wearing First-Person View (FPV) goggles. Revealing further details of the operation, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office wrote in the Instagram post:
“In a nationwide first, a drone was successfully used to disarm an armed suspect, helping bring the incident to a safe resolution.
“Sacramento Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail (SWAT) had the residence surrounded. The known felon and Parolee-At-Large was seen earlier with a firearm. After not responding to negotiators, a drone was deployed inside the residence.”
When the drone entered the house, it located the suspect lying on his stomach. No details have been provided on whether he had been tased, shot, or was feigning unconsciousness. The post added:
“Drone pilots located the suspect hiding in a corner of a garage. One of his hands was concealed under his body, and the other was holding a knife. He was obviously alive, but not responding. Was he pretending to be dead or simply lying in wait for deputies to approach?”
Surprisingly, the footage also included external shots of the drone with the magnet, suggesting another camera or drone may have been used to capture the operation. The department added in its post:
“Rather than rush into a potentially deadly encounter, one drone pilot came up with an innovative solution. By attaching a powerful magnet to the drone, the pilot was able to safely remove the knife from the suspect’s hand before deputies moved in. It was an incredible display of creativity, skill, and precision by the drone pilot.
“It’s also worth noting that our drones are labeled as “military equipment” (even though anyone can purchase them at their local Walmart), but are really just another piece of technology helping deputies resolve dangerous situations safely. Their use protects both law enforcement personnel and suspects.”
View this post on Instagram
Social Media Users Express Skepticism
The Instagram post by the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office has received many comments from users revealing their own perspectives, with many calling the operation a waste of resources since the suspect had been incapacitated, while several others suspected the operation to be staged. Some comments are quoted below:
One user suggested an overdose of a certain substance may have incapacitated him:
“Plot twist… The guy was OD’D and incapacitated already”
Another user wrote:
“So a sleeping guy was a threat”
A user with a keen eye asked the right question:
“What’s filming the drone from the aerial view”
Was the operation staged? One user thinks so:
“lol this was definitely staged”
One user hinted that this was too much to just deal with one suspect who was not even conscious:
“This seems like a big ass waste of resources”
Another user alleged that this was a fake operation:
“Fake news. All staged if you ask me and they did a terrible job at it. And the drone of choice. Straight garbage if you ask me. Could have gotten a real drone that can handle shit. Bump that lil thing and it’s out the air 🤣🤣🤣🤣” [sic]
The Police Had a Robotic Backup Plan If the Drone Didn’t Work
Deputy Tom Lee, Lead Pilot of the Sheriff’s Craft Observation Utilizing Technology (SCOUT) team, operated the drone. He told CBS News that deputies deployed a robotic dog named Buster, which helped clear debris in the garage. This was also a first for the department.
Lee said if the drone had been unsuccessful in disarming the suspect, they would have taken Buster’s help. He said:
“They both play off each other’s strengths. In very small areas, Buster can crawl over things, and around things, and it’s got a more articulating arm that can grab stuff.
“So if my drone was unable to get the knife out of his hand, Buster would be the next option to come in there and possibly grab it.”