Bellingham Police Use Grappler for First Time to Stop Stolen Kia

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham police used their new Grappler Police Bumper for the first time during a pursuit involving a stolen Kia, putting into action equipment the department added in August to help officers stop fleeing vehicles.

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Washington State Patrol shared video Friday showing the device stopping the Kia during the Oct. 19 pursuit, which crossed Interstate 5 and city streets before ending on the southbound I-5 on-ramp at Sunset Drive.

Trooper Kelsey Harding said Washington State Patrol troopers located the vehicle at approximately 11:30 p.m. after it fled from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. Troopers initiated a pursuit and requested assistance from the Bellingham Police Department as the Kia traveled south on I-5 and through Bellingham.

Troopers temporarily discontinued the pursuit when the vehicle headed toward downtown. They re-engaged after it left the downtown area.

A Bellingham police vehicle equipped with the Grappler maneuvered into position and deployed the device, safely ending the pursuit on the Sunset Drive on-ramp, Harding said.

The driver was arrested on multiple charges. Authorities have not released further details about those charges in the information provided by WSP.

Bellingham Police Added Grapplers in August

The deployment follows Bellingham police preparations reported by PNW Daily in August, when the department announced that its Emergency Vehicle Operations instructors had completed initial training with the Grappler Police Bumper.

The device launches a heavy-duty net from the front of a police vehicle to catch a fleeing vehicle’s rear wheel. A tether connects the two vehicles, allowing the pursuing officer to slow the fleeing vehicle and bring it to a controlled stop.

BPD purchased the equipment with funding from a public safety grant established under Washington House Bill 2015. The department had not disclosed how many Grappler systems it purchased.

The Grappler provides officers with another option for ending dangerous pursuits. Unlike spike strips, which puncture tires, the device targets a rear wheel and connects the fleeing vehicle to the pursuing patrol vehicle.

The device requires an officer to position an equipped patrol vehicle behind the fleeing vehicle, so officers cannot use it in every pursuit.

The Oct. 19 incident marks the first time a Bellingham police officer deployed the Grappler during an actual pursuit, according to Harding.

The incident involved coordinated efforts by Washington State Patrol and Bellingham police after the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office initially encountered the fleeing vehicle.

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