A dashcam captured the deployment of a Grappler Police Bumper during a pursuit, showing the device latching onto the rear axle of the fleeing vehicle and tearing it free as the driver attempted to pull away — an outcome that illustrates both the device’s effectiveness and its intensity.
The Grappler is a net-based law enforcement device mounted to the push bumper of a pursuit vehicle. When deployed at close range against a fleeing car, it wraps around the rear axle and either entangles it or, in high-stress deployments, can cause the axle to be pulled from the vehicle’s suspension.
The dramatic footage showed the rear wheel assembly separating from the fleeing car as the driver attempted to accelerate away after initial contact. The vehicle came to an immediate stop with its rear end effectively destroyed.
The Grappler was developed as a less-lethal alternative to PIT maneuvers, aimed at stopping fleeing vehicles without the high-speed contact that PIT techniques require. Its ability to stop a vehicle decisively even at low speeds has made it attractive to agencies in jurisdictions that have restricted high-speed pursuit tactics.
No serious injuries were reported from the deployment. The suspect was taken into custody at the scene following the stop.
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