Hemet, California – In the early hours of Sunday, June 30, 2024, an adult male called 911, stating he was armed with a knife and intended to harm himself. Officers arrived at the scene at approximately 12:54 am, to try and assist the male. The male was refusing to drop the knife and asked the officers to shoot him. There were no others in immediate danger and he made it clear that he had no intention of harming anyone else. To avoid escalating the situation into a deadly encounter, the officers temporarily withdrew.
Later that morning, the male called the Hemet Police Department’s Communication Center again, expressing his willingness to put down the knife and speak with the officers. Upon their response this time around, the Hemet Police Department deployed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV was used to communicate commands to the individual from a safe distance. Following these commands coming from the UAV, the man dropped the knife and willingly surrendered. Officers safely detained him without the use of force and transported him to a local facility for treatment.
This incident highlights the effective use of modern technology combined with de-escalation tactics to ensure a safe resolution to a potentially deadly situation.
