Smart home device 'alerts' police to assault at home in New Mexico

A smart home device has alerted police to an alleged assault taking place inside a house in New Mexico.

A spokesman for Bernalillo County Sheriff Department says a smart speaker called 911 after picking up a man saying, "Did you call the sheriffs?"

Eduardo Barros is accused of threatening to kill his girlfriend while house-sitting with her daughter in Tijeras, near Albuquerque.

Police say they got into an argument, which then became physical.

While allegedly pointing a gun at his partner, the smart home device picked up a voice command and called a police dispatcher.

Bernalillo County Sheriff Department's spokesperson, Deputy Felicia Romero, told ABC News that a crisis negotiation team was sent to the house, who managed to get the woman and her daughter out of the house without them being injured.

Authorities said the smart speaker, which was wired into a surround sound system, played a key part in helping deal with the situation.

"The unexpected use of this new technology to contact emergency services has possibly helped save a life," said Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III.

"This amazing technology definitely helped save a mother and her child from a very violent situation."

According to ABC News, Eduardo Barros is facing several charges including false imprisonment, aggravated assault against a household member and possession of a firearm.

Mr Barros appeared in court last week and is being held in jail until he can enter a plea at another hearing in a higher court.

This isn't the first time a smart speaker has been used by law enforcement in America.

Amazon agreed to hand over data collected by its Echo home device as an alleged murder took place.

The technology company had argued that it was against customer privacy but the man accused of the murder says it may hold clues about who was actually with his friend when he died.

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