Missoula police use vehicle grappler to stop fugitive car on Beartracks Bridge

Officers from the Missoula Police Department apprehended a wanted individual in their car on the Beartracks Bridge Wednesday evening using one of the department's vehicle Grapplers.

According to an MPD press release, Missoula officers were assisting several agencies including the FBI and Montana Probation and Parole in an incident involving someone known to be armed and wanted on a $250,000 Ravalli County warrant. The suspect was driving toward downtown Missoula on Higgins Avenue during peak business hours, down a busy roadway with pedestrians on the sidewalks.

An MPD corporal used a Grappler, a system mounted on the front of a police vehicle, to bring the suspect's vehicle to a controlled stop on the Beartracks Bridge, according to the press release. There were no reported injuries.

The Grappler, according to the press release, allows vehicle pursuits to be brought to a safe conclusion without a high-speed chase. It attaches to the rear axle or tire of a vehicle, quickly immobilizing it.

"As the Missoula Police Department continues to evolve and meet the challenges of modern policing, the integration of vehicle Grapplers underscores its ongoing focus on safety, accountability, and effective law enforcement practices," MPD spokesperson Whitney Bennett said in the release.