Florida police use Grappler to stop fleeing felony suspect on interstate

1 day ago 9

The device launches a tether from the cruiser's bumper, catching the rear tire of the suspect's vehicle

Published Oct 01, 2026 • Last updated 27 minutes ago • 1 minute read

A Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's police cruiser deploys a Grappler device while pursuing a black car on -I-75 in Tampa, Fla.

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Florida police used a Grappler device to arrest a wanted felony suspect driving down an interstate highway Monday afternoon.

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The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office released a video of the dramatic takedown on Tuesday, showing two police cruisers pursuing a black vehicle on I-75 in northeast Tampa.

Footage from a police helicopter shows the two cruisers following the fleeing car closely, with one deploying the Grappler — a device with a tether that shoots out from the cruiser’s bumper — and catching the fleeing vehicle’s rear tire.

Seconds later, the car slows down and comes to a stop on the shoulder of the highway.

Man arrested without further incident

Bodycam footage shows an officer standing outside his cruiser with his gun pointed at the suspect’s vehicle.

The cop shouts at the driver to open his car door and keep his hands visible.

The man complies with the officer’s orders and is placed in handcuffs on the side of the road.

The sheriff’s office said Darius Ford, 28, faces 16 felony charges, including possession of a controlled substance and 10 counts of sexual offender providing false information after registration.

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About the Grappler

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office recently installed Grappler devices on 50 patrol vehicles.

When the tool was unveiled in March, Sheriff Chad Chronister called it an “innovative technology” that is changing how law enforcement safely manages high-risk situations.

“This system gives our deputies the ability to quickly and precisely disable a vehicle in a controlled manner,” Chronister said.

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