BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham Police Department (BPD) officers deployed a newly acquired pursuit intervention bumper for the first time on Oct. 19 to stop a fleeing driver near Interstate 5.
The technology, known as the Grappler Police Bumper, is manufactured by Stock Enterprises, LLC and was acquired by the department through a grant award.
They say the device brought a stolen black Kia to a stop near the Sunset Drive entrance in Bellingham.
It began when Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted a traffic stop on the black Kia. They say the driver refused to stop and drove away.
Deputies temporarily terminated the pursuit before Washington State Patrol troopers relocated the vehicle and requested assistance from Bellingham police officers.
BPD says before the deployment, the driver was swerving into oncoming traffic and running red lights while heading toward the Southbound Interstate 5 entrance at Sunset Drive.
A BPD officer positioned a patrol vehicle behind the Kia and deployed the bumper device, bringing the car to an immediate stop.
Officers arrested the driver at the scene. BPD says the driver was booked on charges including eluding, felony DUI, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a stolen vehicle, driving with a license suspended, and outstanding arrest warrants from Mount Vernon and Skagit County.
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