California Suspect Crawls Into Storm Drain After Police Grappler Stops Chase
A fugitive's attempt to evade authorities ended underground after his vehicle was stopped by a police pursuit-ending device.
A California man attempting to flee police in Corona ended his pursuit by crawling into a storm drain after his vehicle was disabled by a car-catching grappler device. The incident occurred in early October on the westbound 91 Freeway near the Green River Road exit.
Dashcam footage captured the end of the chase, which involved both the Riverside Police Department and the Corona Police Department. Police deployed the Grappler, a device designed to stop fleeing vehicles by tangling their wheels, successfully halting the suspect's car. However, the driver then fled on foot and attempted to hide in a storm drain.
Authorities were able to locate and apprehend the suspect without further incident. He was wanted on an active felony warrant and for reckless evading.
The Corona Police Department had introduced the Grappler device in September, following its successful use in stopping a chase in late August. This incident marked another instance of the technology being employed to end a pursuit. The suspect's decision to hide in a storm drain proved unsuccessful, as law enforcement ultimately took him into custody.