Riverside County Sheriff's Department Stands by Grappler Device After Pursuit Crash

The tether failed to deploy, leading to a crash and the suspect's suicide, but officials say the technology remains an effective tool.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:26pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered car sensor or camera lens, reflecting a faint red light, conceptually illustrating the aftermath of a failed police pursuit intervention.A damaged police technology device highlights the risks and limitations of pursuit intervention tools, even as law enforcement continues to rely on them.Riverside Today

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is defending its use of the Grappler tether device, which is intended to safely end police chases, after a recent incident where the tether failed to deploy, causing the suspect's car to crash and the driver to later shoot himself. While the technology has largely received positive reviews from law enforcement agencies, this latest incident has raised questions about its reliability.

Why it matters

The Grappler device is a relatively new technology that has been adopted by several hundred law enforcement agencies across the country as a way to safely end high-speed pursuits. This incident highlights the potential risks and limitations of the device, which could have implications for how police departments approach vehicle pursuits in the future.

The details

In the recent incident, deputies attempted to use the Grappler device to stop a suspect wanted for grand theft, but the tether failed to deploy. The suspect's car then crashed through a wall into a Jurupa Valley home, and the driver later shot himself during a standoff with the sheriff's SWAT team. The sheriff's department says it will continue to use the Grappler, which has proven effective in many other cases, but acknowledged that no tactic or tool is 100% effective.

  • The pursuit began at 2:08 p.m. on April 8, 2026 when deputies initially spotted the suspect driving in the area of Pat's Ranch Road and Limonite Avenue.
  • Deputies attempted to deploy the Grappler device in the area of Bellegrave and Etiwanda avenues.

The players

Riverside County Sheriff's Department

The law enforcement agency that has adopted the use of the Grappler tether device to safely end police chases.

Lt. Dierdre Vickers

A spokeswoman for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department who defended the department's use of the Grappler device.

Lt. Jason Santistevan

The officer who oversees the K-9 teams that deploy the Grappler device, and who views it as a safer alternative to other pursuit intervention tactics.

Leonard Stocks

The inventor of the Grappler device, who declined to comment on the recent incident.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Grappler has proven to be a highly effective tool for intervening during pursuits, and we will continue to use it.”

— Lt. Dierdre Vickers, Spokeswoman, Riverside County Sheriff's Department

“The Grappler is a tool utilized to prevent or intervene during a pursuit. Although law enforcement strives for 100% effectiveness with every tactic or tool used during confrontations, that's not always the case.”

— Lt. Dierdre Vickers, Spokeswoman, Riverside County Sheriff's Department

“The Grappler is a safer alternative in many cases to other tactics that can expose bystanders and officers to danger.”

— Lt. Jason Santistevan, Officer overseeing K-9 teams that deploy the Grappler, Riverside County Sheriff's Department

What’s next

The Riverside County Sheriff's Force Investigations Detail is investigating the incident to determine what went wrong with the Grappler deployment and whether policies and procedures were followed.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the potential risks and limitations of the Grappler device, even as it remains a tool that many law enforcement agencies view as a safer alternative to other pursuit intervention tactics. It underscores the need for continued evaluation and refinement of these technologies to ensure they are as effective and reliable as possible.