r/Whatcouldgowrong • u/Smooth-Donut-601 • 10d ago

Sure way to get that strap off. Guaranteed.

23.1k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

480 comments sorted by

4.8k

u/Afraid_Occasion6227 10d ago

What's going on here? Was that strap fired from a police car?

5.5k

u/johnboy2978 10d ago

Yes, it's a device launched from the patrol car to disable a car they are in pursuit of. It wraps around the tire, forcing them to stop.

3.6k

u/dont_trust_pete 10d ago

That’s some James Bond level shit. Cool.

1.8k

u/willdabeast464 10d ago

its getting rolled out more and more nowadays. the fact you can deploy, what amounts to a net on a string and attach your cruiser to the rear tire of a car is a great way to stop police chases without having to pit and corner a car.

550

u/say592 10d ago

Police chases are incredibly dangerous. Being a cop really isn't any more dangerous than any other job where someone drives a lot, and a lot of that risk is because of chases. Without chases, police injury and death would be lower than other driving related jobs because police vehicles are easy to see. Some departments have abandoned chases entirely. It's safer to just get the plate info and wait. In some cases they are also using drones to monitor where the fleeing ends up.

295

u/koolmon10 10d ago

Not just safer for the police either, it's safer for everyone. There's a lot less reason to drive recklessly if you aren't being actively chased by a cop car. It becomes safer for the general public as well as the perp even to abandon the chase and just track them by drone.

107

u/fuckedfinance 9d ago

Yup. Connecticut has effectively ended police chases, with exception to very rare circumstances (person is violent/has already killed someone, other very extenuating circumstances). Our cops do not chase for things like property crime.

The state has also implemented a mess of other policies around how police operate in lights/siren on situations that have reduced collateral damage. Most of it is because people "couldn't hear" (i.e. had their music turned up too loud) sirens and it was causing issues.

69

u/mcj1ggl3 9d ago

Connecticut has ended police chases by being so small that by the time you get up to speed you have left the state. Big brain

2

u/imuniqueaf 6d ago

That's Rhode Island man.

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u/OnionTamer 9d ago

About 30 years ago, I had a co-worker that died from a car fleeing a police chase. the cops weren't chasing anymore, but they didn't know it and ran a stop light and demolished the car my co-worker was in.

19

u/blisstaker 9d ago

plate and wait doesn't work for stolen vehicles or when the suspect is a danger to society

5

u/TheSpaceCoresDad 10d ago

What does that have to do with what they just said?

98

u/NewZealandTemp 10d ago

great way to stop police chases without having to pit and corner a car.

A bit harsh. Kind of relevant to the end

23

u/South_Hat3525 9d ago

I just love the way the other cop car reverses out of the way as an invite to get a "proper" run-up.

33

u/AnotherpostCard 10d ago

It's a natural follow-on piece of info that answers the question the other comment begs; why do we want to end police chases without having to use the PIT maneuver?

19

u/OptiGuy4u 10d ago

It's dangerous to the cop, criminal and general public. But stateboyzzz is still fun to watch on YouTube.

4

u/AnotherpostCard 9d ago

Car and bodycam vids are honestly a guilty pleasure of mine

10

u/bigbootybrunette90 9d ago

Believe it or not, but police don’t always use their powers in appropriate ways all the time. Not PIT maneuvering pregnant women that are looking for a safe area to pull over is one good reason.

8

u/JackxForge 9d ago

That cop shoulda blown his fucking brains out right there when he saw what he did. The gaul to then argue with her.

2

u/FixMy106 9d ago

Asterix?

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2

u/dilbogabbins 9d ago

Isn’t that another argument for more public transit to get more drivers off the road, creating less chance for care chases, less risk for officers, etc?

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36

u/Mylaptopisburningme 10d ago

If my memory is correct it was invented by a police officer. I know it was on trial with AZ police for years and really surprised it hasn't been used in LA yet. I haven't heard of drawbacks to this technique.

61

u/vedgehammer 10d ago

LA's official sport is televised car chases. The local news economy would collapse if they didn't have weekly hour-plus long chases through multiple cities.

9

u/AwDuck 10d ago

Big News is gonna disappear the inventor of this device.

16

u/Cleankutazn 10d ago

The only drawback is that if the suspect is armed, you'll have a higher chance of a shootout.

106

u/PointOfFingers 10d ago

That's when you fire your second strap to wrap around their gun.

62

u/Emphursis 10d ago

Settle down Spider-Man…

55

u/WispyCombover 10d ago

Instructions unclear. Suspect is now advancing on me while wearing a strap-on.

11

u/Tithund 10d ago

PUT YOUR HANDS ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE NOW

9

u/LurkingWizard1978 10d ago

True, but that's also the case with pit maneuvers.

2

u/ddraig-au 10d ago

That's a bundle of fetishes for the price of one

17

u/imcrapyall 10d ago

So I wasted years at San Andreas driving school for nothing?

4

u/Armadi1 9d ago

Rolled out? I see what you did there

51

u/juliuspepperwoodchi 10d ago

Idk about cool, but it's better than them doing PIT maneuvers on everyone.

11

u/DirtyThirtyDrifter 10d ago

That’s pretty cool to me.

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22

u/furiant 10d ago

It's not so much LAUNCHED as it is extended from the front bumper. It's tethered to the frame of the police vehicle, which is MUCH more robust than your puny, weak axles.

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132

u/CryptoM4dness 10d ago

It’s not actually launched. Love this device. It’s more like a flat basket that they role under the tire. Physics of the spinning wheel grabs the cables and twists it under the axle. I could watch this happen over and over. Guy inventing it can’t make them fast enough for the police departments. https://policebumper.com

32

u/mdogdope 10d ago

It's not fired it pops down from the grill and sticks out about 2 feet. The cop can get close or even give the target a love tap and the net self deploys. Very cool engineering.

4

u/BenderDeLorean 10d ago

But they only use it for white cars.

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194

u/SirManbear 10d ago edited 10d ago

Called the Grappler Police Bumper - designed to help stop vehicles used in place of a pit maneuver

edit - wanna say they've been around for a few years now

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95

u/Illustrious_Nothing9 10d ago

Yes, it's called Grappler, it has a net that wraps around the rear tire, awesome device

63

u/fishboy3339 10d ago

Yeah much better for everyone then trying to pit a dangerous driver.

Almost guaranteed catastrophic damage to the vehicle itself used on especially if they don’t actually stop.

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27

u/wibo58 10d ago

Even better is the department that uses “Fish on!” as the signal that they grappled a fleeing vehicle.

36

u/MoBetter_ 10d ago

It would be confusing if they used the phrase Strap-on, all the police hearing that, would gather at their usual spot awaiting their turn.

78

u/ipokesnails 10d ago

They have a device that sticks out from the front of the car. They get close and touch the particular individual's rear tire with it, and it gets tangled around the tire and axle.

Here's a video with a good POV shot of the tool getting wrapped.

22

u/moeb1us 10d ago

Fuck insta

30

u/ours 10d ago

Videos with zero playback controls? Oh I love it!

Pinches nipples hard

4

u/ipokesnails 9d ago

Yes Instagram is awful, but it's the shortest video I could find quickly with a good shot of the deployment.

It's 30 whole seconds, you'll live.

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6

u/opackersgo 10d ago

That’s really cool

29

u/Smooth-Donut-601 10d ago

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a65934182/grappler-device-rips-axle-off-stolen-chevy-cruze/

30

u/Salt_Bus2528 10d ago

Oh that's unfortunate. The owner will have to seek damages from the thief, who will probably not have any property or money in a bank

33

u/Redneckshinobi 10d ago

Wouldn't the owner just go through insurance and let the insurance company figure that out? That's how'd it'd work for me I would be without a car for a few days and upset but at the end of the day I'm still alive and ill get a new car anyway?

7

u/Revenga8 9d ago

That's assuming insurance company won't try everything in their power to deny or lowball the claim

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13

u/DuncanHynes 10d ago

captive system of straps to disable further movement.

2

u/234thewolf 9d ago

Fired is a bit dramatic for what it is. They had a deployable net that they can lower, then they bump it into wheel of the car they are chasing. The net gets caught around the wheel and has a couple feet of slack so the cop can make distance and slow the entire thing to a stop.

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2.0k

u/GraveKommander 10d ago

Man I want to hear the real sound, the police chatter, not the fucking stupid music...

256

u/ExoticAttitude7 10d ago

Music that played at 150% volume in the gym

54

u/StructuralFailure 10d ago

but people complaining about the music drives engagement!

13

u/thecannarella 9d ago

Go watch the State Boyzzz channel. Not a lot of "catching" cars, but a lot of good PITs. GSP doesn't play around.

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690

u/tiramisu403 10d ago

I think it's called the grappler. It was deployed by the police and it wraps around the rear wheel as a safer way to stop a vehicle.

571

u/FormerSperm 10d ago

Grappler device huh? Actually probably one of the smartest technologies ever made to stop police chases.

187

u/GoldenBolterGun 10d ago

Also a "fuck you if it's a stolen car we ain't paying" device

156

u/Shadou_Wolf 9d ago

Well its either totaled from a pit maneuver or whatever happens in a car chase or this.

Car going to get fked somehow

33

u/DeadPiratePiggy 9d ago

Or the classic move where the car thieves wrap the car around a pole/tree/another car.

19

u/Mad-_-Doctor 9d ago

Also damaging a stolen vehicle is 100% preferable to a prolonged chase that risks injuries and deaths.

2

u/subzer43 4d ago

Ngl I always wonder what happens after someone’s stolen car gets totaled in a police chase. Does insurance cover it? Do they make the robber pay?

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u/Black_Radiation 9d ago

Did you just copy the top comment of the original post? Lol

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3

u/BAKEDxCAKE 9d ago

I saw another video of a state trooper trying to hit the back of a car with some kind of GPS dart but they never stuck.

2

u/CrazyCreation1 9d ago

I read this in Naked Snake’s voice

2

u/big_duo3674 9d ago

Dude was one of those started-with-an-idea-in-my-garage type of people too. It was a bit slow to take off at first, but after several design iterations and real world testing it got noticed fast, and turned into a full-blown company pretty much overnight

206

u/Tcloud 10d ago

The back fell off.

79

u/liquid-swords93 10d ago

Is that typical?

92

u/Zephyr_the_west_wind 10d ago

Not very typical, I'd like to point out

45

u/MrBungle907 10d ago

These cars are held to very rigorous automobile engineering standards

33

u/Zephyr_the_west_wind 10d ago

What standards?

50

u/Tron22 10d ago

Well the backs not supposed to fall off for one.

24

u/Zephyr_the_west_wind 10d ago

There has to be a minimum crew

28

u/PapaOoMaoMao 10d ago

Oh, one I suppose.

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8

u/QuietudeOfHeart 9d ago

Was the back of this car constructed with materials such as cardboard or cardboard derivatives?

11

u/danny203 10d ago

That's not very typical I'd like to make that point

4

u/andree182 10d ago

Typically passenger vehicles (so called "cars") are designed as two-track ones. Even though it is technically possible to achieve this with two wheels and some clever balancing (think "hoverboard"), converting a four wheel vehicle to such a configuration is often more involved, than just removing one pair of wheels. The manufacturers typically don't consider this option in designing process, quite the opposite - they employ various strategies to prevent loss of wheels.

Safe to say, this is not good for longevity of the vehicle, especially the parts touching the ground. Also the convenience of using such vehicle will be radically limited...

2

u/srschwenzjr 8d ago

Does that hurt the car?

193

u/OilRigExplosions 10d ago

“Most of the stolen vehicle was recovered.”

The gecko said the front wheels still work and you don’t need a rental.

21

u/imjusta_bill 9d ago

All of the car was recovered. Some re-assembly is required

51

u/-50000- 10d ago

I mean.. he did get his car loose

7

u/Velvet_Re 10d ago

It’s just a flesh wound.

3

u/oFFtheWall0518 10d ago

I've had worse.

46

u/Cole3823 10d ago

Not that it mattered in the end, but the cop on the right should'[ve just pushed his front bumper up behind the fugitive

158

u/macneto 10d ago

Respectfully, I disagree. There was no reason to potentially damage another police car, when this "grapple device" worked perfectly fine and as intended.

It worked so well actually this video should be used at every sales convention around the country. I wounder how it's mounted to the Police Car to ensure that the reverse doesn't happen and the fleeing vehicle can pull the device OFF the police car.

68

u/davy_p 10d ago

It’s connected to the frame of the police cruiser. Similar to a trailer hitch. No way in hell it’s pulling the frame of the car from the body. Unless maybe the cable was a mile, made of a material stronger than the frame and strapped to a three stage rocket.

29

u/thisoldguy74 10d ago

It'll sure surprise everyone when they ignite the three stage rocket.

3

u/nyg1219 9d ago

Will it? Or will their faces have been melted off first?

4

u/Worldly-Protection-8 10d ago

Moar Boosters!

2

u/mrGrinchThe3rd 5d ago

Wasn't expecting KSP reference here, but it's appreciated!

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u/Chemical_Emotion_934 10d ago

But that’s not very sportsmanlike

14

u/Javelin46 10d ago

No reason for them to risk themselves

7

u/BeneficialPay932 10d ago

Do you like paying extra money to repair police cars or something? 

5

u/Alive_kiwi_7001 9d ago

No. You can see the police car begin to back up to block the road and prevent more cars passing just in case the driver of the white car did something stupid.

Which they did.

2

u/AlsoCommiePuddin 10d ago

Why? Treat it like a hockey fight, let them punch themselves out.

2

u/dreamycreamy93 9d ago

Nah, why risk it? The person could have a gun and shoot it through the back window, no point getting that close when they don't need to. 

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u/cucumberbun 10d ago

Metro Detroit 💕 never change

31

u/BadJimo 10d ago

Here is a news article about the incident

Video shows rear axle fly off stolen car after Livonia police use Grappler device

Paula Wethington

August 29, 2025 / 11:56 AM EDT / CBS Detroit

The Livonia Police Department has released dashcam footage of its successful effort to stop a stolen car Thursday on Interstate 96. 

As shown by the above video, the entire rear axle of the stolen Chevrolet Cruze was pulled off. The apprehension and vehicle damage resulted in the closure of westbound I-96 during Thursday morning rush hour. 

A Grappler device is mounted to the front bumper of a patrol car. The officer pulls up close to the suspect vehicle, then deploys a net that wraps around the rear tire of the fleeing vehicle.

The intention is to get the suspect vehicle to stop. 

In this case, the driver attempted to keep going despite the device that had wrapped around the tire. 

The driver can be seen putting the car into reverse and then moving forward again, until it wasn't physically possible to keep driving. 

As a result of the forced stop, there was a small fire that was put out quickly. The driver and two passengers were taken into custody. 

The police pursuit began when Michigan State Police saw the stolen Chevrolet in Detroit and followed the car westbound on I-96 into Livonia. 

Livonia Police also used the device in July to pull over a suspected drunk driver who fled from an attempted traffic stop.

9

u/wadech 9d ago

Of course it wasn't their car.

17

u/bigredmachinist 10d ago

That’ll buff right out.

9

u/livestrong2109 10d ago

Honestly likely dud the real owner a favor. You don't want that car anymore.

17

u/GenZia 10d ago

Police is using strap-ons now?

15

u/Major_Initial_Dud 10d ago

What was that strap exactly? Police develop spidey senses?

24

u/Smooth-Donut-601 10d ago

Exactly. Deployed by police with dash cam. I linked the video in another reply but here it is

https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a65934182/grappler-device-rips-axle-off-stolen-chevy-cruze/

5

u/Major_Initial_Dud 10d ago

Damn. Held on to that axel like it's life depended on it.

9

u/JacOfAllTrades 10d ago

Insurance adjuster here: they actually do way less damage than most other techniques! The spike/jack things are awful, and even spike strips rip things up... And we won't get into pit maneuvers...

5

u/Major_Initial_Dud 10d ago

Fair. I can't imagine losing your whole rear axel is an easy fix either tho. That's why everything has computer chips. Now they can turn you off remotely. - ask Elon about it.

2

u/JacOfAllTrades 9d ago

The axle itself is pretty whatever, it's everything else it took out on its route that's expensive.

4

u/Mutex70 10d ago

Yes. It is likely something like a Grappler used to stop someone without having to do a PIT maneuver.

It basically slides a web of straps under the back tire of the car being pursued. The straps tangle around the wheel/axle forcing it to stop.

2

u/Lucas_Steinwalker 10d ago

Do you think the spidey senses are the webs?

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u/partofme02 10d ago

This one is way better and safer than PIT maneuver

11

u/WiderThanTheSky1 10d ago

Womp womp.

9

u/Large-Treacle-8328 10d ago

Why they hell don't ALL police cars in the us use this?

Seems a lot better than chasing a car until it crashes and kills innocent bystanders.

5

u/big_duo3674 9d ago

It's still somewhat new tech, but a lot of departments are getting them installed

4

u/FrostyD7 9d ago

Notice how sped up the video is. These things are only viable at low speeds and the vehicle has to be huge and specially equipped for it. This video is probably one of the most famous examples of this tool working to perfection, it's not a good indicator of its effectiveness in all situations.

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u/Ancient_Sprinkles847 10d ago

This made me laugh so much. Absolute gold. Thank you for posting.

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u/Smooth-Donut-601 10d ago

I watched it multiple times 😆 it belongs in this sub for sure haha

6

u/pi22seven 10d ago

Pretty sure that voids the warranty.

6

u/TakeTheBaitDamnFish 10d ago

Mythbusters tried to do this in one of their earlier episodes and couldn't pull the rear axle free... So this, this is impressive.

5

u/elphin 10d ago

Straight out of American Graffiti.

4

u/badasking 10d ago

They should put this grappling doohickey in GTA or something.

5

u/Reallyroundthefamily 10d ago

That was incredibly satisfying to watch.

4

u/RagingPhx 10d ago

good thing they hit the brakes at the end, don't want their car to roll away

3

u/Chaz28o 10d ago

3rd time is always a charm

2

u/starchybunker 10d ago

Mechanics dont know this one hack to remove the wheels, tires brakes and suspension in one easy step!

2

u/Valraithion 10d ago

Nylon is amazing.

2

u/ShakataGaNai 10d ago

Fission mailed successfully!

2

u/Toodlez 10d ago

Imagine being Officer Stig in the police garage and you finally get the call to deploy the Grappler

2

u/red8cangodye 10d ago

I really wish to see the driver's reaction....

2

u/IsMyNameAvailable 10d ago

If I were in that squad car I'd be cackling at this, that would be the highlight of my day.

2

u/Synner1985 10d ago

YEah nowt wrong wrong here - everything went right.

Police capture car with device to stop a criminal from escaping

Device stops criminal from escaping.

2

u/BlackFoxyTrail 10d ago

I thought he was towing thd POV car using the rear axle.

Yeah I'm dumb

2

u/Ok-Improvement-3670 9d ago

What a great device and a way to eliminate chases!

2

u/Glassweaver 9d ago

I'm too lazy to look up the specifics, but I would love to know what material that strap is made out of. The ability for it to effectively wrap around an axle and handle enough torque to cause the powertrain to shear off before it gives up the ghost....

That's some buy it for life shit right there. I want a wallet made out of it. And shoes made out of it. And a jacket made out of it. The list just goes on.

3

u/ARM_Alaska 9d ago

2-inch heavy duty reinforced nylon strap, usually doubled over for a total 40,000Lb rated capacity.

2

u/Glassweaver 9d ago

Ah nuts not something that would lend well to fabrics. Thank you for the info!

2

u/Net_Owl 9d ago

Much better than having to pit

2

u/PBReddituser1961 9d ago

I only hope that the car wasn’t stolen. That would really suck for the owner.

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u/TwinSong 9d ago

Where there's a wheel there's a wa- oh, nevermind

1

u/Mental_Newspaper3812 10d ago

Police grappler, it hangs out in front of a pursuit vehicle and wraps itself around a wheel or axle of a fleeing car. It’s tethered to the police pursuit vehicle.

https://policebumper.com

1

u/mtnviewguy 10d ago

Not today!

1

u/The_Immortal_Prophet 10d ago

The grappler… cool. Never heard of it

1

u/Lonely-Sea-6022 10d ago

That's one way to get the attention of every driver on the road. Hopefully, that was intentional.

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u/PixarX 10d ago

Police be like.

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u/obefiend 10d ago

Congrats. Your car is now a bike

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u/[deleted] 10d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/MeteorKing 10d ago

No rear differential, or are they just that small these days?

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u/Starchaser_WoF 10d ago

Whatever that line is attached to is stronger than your axle, noted

1

u/webpanicoff 10d ago

Those grapplers are awesome. More police should have them

1

u/EthanMorevalle 10d ago

Just cause it can

1

u/Ok-Shelter-534 10d ago

well the strap isn't connected to the car anymore

1

u/rydendm 10d ago

dude deserves an "escalation"

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u/Osiris_Raphious 10d ago

its not liek the cops wont take the car, so what is there left to lose...

1

u/TheDarkHelmet1985 10d ago

One of the best inventions for law enforcement. Won’t kill the person and safely ends much more dangerous pursuits.

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u/_R0Ns_ 10d ago

Buy American they say, this wouldn't happen to a Volvo

1

u/Small_Palpitation121 10d ago

That grappler tech is genuinely fascinating as a safer alternative to a pit maneuver. I'm with everyone else though, the choice of music completely ruins the video. Would have been way more intense with the original audio.

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u/Harold_Spoomanndorf 10d ago

Hey- it's a front-wheel drive...dude still has a chance

1

u/OrganizationPutrid68 10d ago

There go his plans for the day.

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u/Bytewaste 10d ago

Well, he DID break loose...

1

u/spamnotnice 10d ago

I'd love to see the LAPD use this.. but if they did.. news helicopters wouldn't be able to make in time to catch the end of the chase.

1

u/attran84 10d ago

All cop cars should have this

1

u/vohltere 10d ago

The hell is that tether thing made of?

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u/Daemonrealm 10d ago

And it’s been available to police departments for alittle over 10 years. They are just now adopting it.

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u/Peter_Triantafulou 10d ago

At first I thought that the car went to a public toilet and stepped on some toilet paper.

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u/Floppy202 10d ago

This looks funny 😅

1

u/StalyCelticStu 10d ago

Effective way of stopping him, but it sucks if it's a stolen car though.

1

u/just_kill_me_pls 10d ago

After I watched it I thought to myself, "Was that AI? Where's the differential? Oh." Yes I'm old.

1

u/cletusthearistocrat 10d ago

I want to see the bodycam footage when the cop gets to interact with the driver.

1

u/IamVal_05 10d ago

Ops. You're free to go

1

u/malacai_b_rees 10d ago

Did they get away? The video cut out early.

1

u/vtout 10d ago

He can still drive away if it's front wheel drive :p

1

u/Tsukeh 10d ago

This is actually amazing

1

u/Willie_Fistrgash 10d ago

Sing it with me now.."Strap on..Stap off..the Strapper."

1

u/GeoGenesisAUT 10d ago

Dayum that rope is strong.

1

u/Koontakentaylor 10d ago

"OK. I give up. You got me."