Wash. Police Deploy Grappler Device for First Time to End Vehicle Chase

A Bellingham police officer used the department's newly acquired Grappler device for the first time to stop a driver accused of fleeing police, driving into oncoming traffic and running red lights.

By Hannah Edelman

Source The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.)

Oct. 26, 2026

2 min read

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The Bellingham Police Department deployed a Grappler device for the first time after equipping patrol vehicles with the technology through a $3.7 million public safety grant.
Officers used the device to stop a fleeing driver who allegedly was swerving into oncoming traffic, running red lights and heading toward Interstate 5.
The driver was arrested on multiple charges, including felony DUI, vehicle eluding, possession of a stolen vehicle and drug possession, and also had active warrants.

Bellingham police use a Grappler to stop a fleeing driver — Photos show how Bellingham police used a Grappler device to snare a fleeing vehicle and end a chase before the driver could reach Interstate 5.

The Bellingham Police Department has deployed its “grappler” police bumper for the first time after purchasing the devices using a public safety grant.

Bellingham City Council accepted a $3.7 million grant in May from the state Criminal Justice Training Commission. The funding allowed the city to unfreeze three police officer positions and buy advanced equipment such as drones, dashboard-mounted cameras and grappler devices that snare the wheel of a fleeing car, forcing it to stop.

Several patrol vehicles have been outfitted with the grapplers, according to BPD, and officers completed certification training in their use.

The department said in a social media post Wednesday that an officer used a grappler for the first time on Monday night following a police chase. Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle, but the driver failed to yield and fled.

The pursuit was momentarily stopped before Washington State Patrol relocated the car and requested help from BPD. The driver was heading into oncoming traffic, swerving and running red lights, BPD said, and was about to enter Interstate 5 at Sunset Drive. A grappler-trained BPD officer was able to get to the scene behind the car and deploy the device, stopping the car.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of eluding police, felony DUI, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a stolen vehicle and driving with a suspended license. He also had active warrants out of Skagit County.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the man remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bond.

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