Police chases occur when drivers attempt to evade a traffic stop, posing a significant risk of car accidents involving innocent bystanders. Fortunately, law enforcement has developed various methods to apprehend these evading drivers. In Ohio, a pioneering police officer has recently adopted a groundbreaking approach, becoming the first in the state to employ this strategy.
The grappler is another way to get drivers to engage with a traffic stop
According to a report by Fox 8 News, a police officer in Garfield Heights, Ohio, made history by becoming the first in the state to utilize the Grappler on the evening of December 25th. The officer encountered a situation where a vehicle refused to comply with a traffic stop. However, with the help of the Grappler Police Bumper, he was able to safely bring the vehicle to a stop, preventing any potential car accidents.
Leonard Stock, a 58-year-old roofing contractor, is the ingenious mind behind the Grapper, a cutting-edge traffic stop device. His motivation for inventing it stemmed from a desire to provide a safe solution for apprehending suspects involved in high-speed chases. The Grapper functions by deploying netting and straps beneath the rear wheels of fleeing vehicles, effectively immobilizing them and preventing their escape from law enforcement.
According to Leonard, the traffic stop device works by having the tire rotate, which pulls the net up and over the wheel. It then gets wrapped around the axle or other components. The officer can then apply the brakes on their vehicle to bring the suspect vehicle to a stop.
After the device was first used on a traffic stop in Ohio, he expressed his excitement in a statement. He shared, “I’m truly thrilled about it. It’s hard to put into words how amazing it feels to dedicate yourself to a project, face challenges and setbacks along the way, and then see an agency enthusiastically use it. It’s an indescribable feeling of joy and fulfillment.”
The Grappler Police Bumper has successfully aided in the termination of over 1,000 police chases.