Grappler stops fleeing driver in Thurston County — Sheriff says ‘Pull over, do your night in jail’

Thurston County deputies deployed a grappler – the anti-tangle tracking device that is gaining national attention – to end a police chase Tuesday morning.

Deputies attempted to stop a driver who had a suspended license and an active arrest warrant for hit-and-run, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) said.

The driver fled, sparking a chase which you can watch in the video below.

A deputy deployed a Police Bumper Grappler – a net and tether system mounted on a patrol car that wraps around the rear tire of a fleeing vehicle – to stop the car. The device broke on impact, but not before blocking the tire. The driver tried to drive away, but couldn’t get far.

Driver sentenced to jail on multiple charges in Thurston County

The driver was taken into custody on several charges, including reckless endangerment, domestic violence and attempted escape.

According to court records obtained by The Olympianthe police also arrested two passengers, including a woman six months pregnant with the suspect’s child.

Sheriff Sanders: Spend your night in jail

“Running from law enforcement only makes what is happening worse,” Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said in a Facebook post. “Do the right thing: pull over, spend the night in jail (or bail out), and don’t put your passengers and other community members in danger.”

This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com

Frank Lenzi is the news director of KIRO Newsradio. Read more of her stories here.