An 18-year-old driver was arrested in Monon, Wisconsin, following a high-speed chase. Police officers, however, used a grappler for the first time to stop the fleeing vehicle in its tracks, which is also believed to be the tool’s first successful use in the state.
According to a press release issued by the Monona Police Department (MPD), the incident occurred at around 12:53 a.m. on Sunday, May 24. At that moment, an MPD officer observed two different vehicles racing and driving recklessly along Highway 51.
The officer in question attempted a traffic stop on one of the vehicles. As per the release, the driver refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued.
After analyzing conditions such as low traffic, MPD officers continued the pursuit. Other agencies, such as the McFarland Police Department and the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, assisted during the chase.
High-Speed Chase
At first, police officers deployed tire deflation devices to get the vehicle to stop. However, the driver avoided these, the release detailed, and the chase continued.
The driver turned west onto E. Broadway and, despite striking the curb, continued to drive away at high speed, the MPD alleged. At that point, an MPD officer trained with the grappler device took the lead position and prepared to deploy it.
“The officer made several determinations consistent with department policy, including roadway conditions, traffic volume, public safety considerations, and the optimum placement and timing for deployment,” the release detailed.
Grappler Deployed
Before the grappler was deployed, officers observed that the fleeing vehicle slowed down and had its hazard lights activated. However, the vehicle didn’t stop, and was labeled a pursuit tactic to create uncertainty.
Therefore, to prevent the chase from continuing any further, the aforementioned trained officer deployed the grappler. Footage shows the officer accelerating and staying right behind the suspect’s vehicle while the grappler, a heavy-duty net, wrapped around one of its wheels.
As a result, the pursuit ended for good. The suspect was arrested, and the three other occupants inside the vehicle were released after being detained.
Suspect Charged, Alleged Admission
The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Nathan A. Abernathy. He was charged with felony attempted eluding and reckless driving. If convicted, he could spend up to 3.5 years in prison and be fined up to $10,000.
Allegedly, Abernathy admitted to fleeing from officers, whom he had recognized as members of the MPD. Then, the release said that he explained his decision to flee by saying, “My [expletive] wasn’t thinking.”
Finally, the MPD believed that one of the vehicle occupants convinced Abernathy to slow down. The police expressed their appreciation, as that decision might have prevented a tragedy.