Investigates

New technology could stop police chases before they start

FILE PHOTO: A 3-year-old boy died Saturday after being left in a hot car in Texas, police said.  

High-speed police chases might be entertaining to watch, but they can put the public and officers at risk.

But new technology could help local law enforcement agencies stop chases before they start.

Action News Jax has reported on our fair share of high-speed chases.

In August, an SUV ended up wrapped around a tree in the Panama Park neighborhood during a chase.

One person died in the crash, and three others were seriously hurt.

That same month, a suspect ran from deputies in Nassau County and put innocent lives in danger.

According to the US Department of Justice, on average, at least one person is killed in a pursuit-related crash nationwide every day.

New technology, like the Grappler Police Bumper, aims to keep pursuits from ending in a deadly crash.

Leonard Stock came up with the idea in the middle of the night and said it took years to perfect.

The steel device deploys a heavy-duty net that snatches the target’s back wheel, wraps around it and locks the axle while ruining the tire.

Content Continues Below

TRENDING: 

“They can actually bring the vehicle to a stop within a few seconds, and that ensures that that vehicle isn’t going to go through an intersection or a crosswalk and injure somebody,” Stock said.

He said police departments on the West Coast who use his product have recorded 35 successful captures.
Stock said he hopes to provide the tool to departments in Florida.

Another innovation is the StarChase GPS Dart, developed by Trevor Fishbach.

It allows officers to shoot a sticky tracking device onto the back of a suspect’s car and track it from a safe distance.

When the suspect stops, police can move in to make the arrest.

“It’s saving lives and slowing down the events,” Fishbach said.

The device is being used in 21-plus states, including Florida

Action News Jax reached out to sheriff’s departments in Duval, St. Johns, Clay and Nassau Counties and learned that none use either device.

Deputies said cost was the biggest factor.

The devices cost about $5,000 each.

Stock and Fisbach said it’s worth the price of chases gone wrong.

STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories

Download WJAX Apps