Grappler Bumper Washington County: Stolen Car Chase Stopped
A coordinated multi-agency response ended safely after a Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy deployed a specialized Grappler Police Bumper to immobilize a fleeing stolen vehicle near Sand Hollow.
At approximately 2:49 p.m. on August 19, 2026, dispatchers issued an Attempt to Locate (ATL) for a vehicle entering Utah on Interstate 15 from Arizona. The vehicle had been formally reported stolen out of California.
How the Multi-Agency Pursuit Unfolded
The pursuit spanned several jurisdictions across Washington County before law enforcement brought it to a controlled stop:
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Initial Contact on I-15: Officers with the Washington City Police Department spotted the suspect traveling northbound on I-15 near mile marker 12 and attempted a traffic stop near exit 16. The driver actively evaded officers and exited the freeway, prompting Washington City Police to discontinue their pursuit.
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State Street Pursuit: A Utah Division of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Ranger located the vehicle near 4400 West State Street. When the driver again refused to stop, the Ranger initiated a pursuit.
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Taking Primary Position: A Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy driving a patrol car equipped with a Grappler Police Bumper was trailing five vehicles behind the DNR Ranger. The Deputy caught up near 3820 West State Street, where the Ranger relinquished the primary pursuit position to allow the Grappler unit to take over.
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The Grappler Deployment: The suspect turned south onto Sand Hollow Road toward Sand Hollow Resort Parkway. An officer with the Hurricane Police Department positioned ahead attempted to deploy spike strips. The driver slowed down and swerved to avoid the spikes, creating an optimal opportunity for the Deputy to apply the Grappler device directly onto the vehicle’s driver-side rear tire.
Suspect Extraction and Arrest
Once the tethering net wrapped around the rear axle and brought the vehicle to a halt, deputies issued verbal commands for the driver to turn off the ignition and hand over the keys.
The driver refused to comply, shifting into reverse and attempting to accelerate to break free from the tethering system. The Grappler held firmly in place, preventing further flight.
Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Hurricane Police Department safely extracted the driver from the vehicle and took him into custody without further incident.
Watch the Pursuit Video Coverage
For video coverage of the Grappler Police Bumper deployment near Sand Hollow, watch the official news report from KUTV 2 News Salt Lake City:
Watch it here: KUTV 2 News Salt Lake City on YouTube
Suspect Charges and Booking Details
The suspect was transported and booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility on four charges:
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Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
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Evading / Failure to Stop at Command of Law Enforcement
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Driving on a Suspended License
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Open Container in Vehicle
Participating Agencies
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office commended the quick response and communication among all partnering agencies involved in the response:
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Utah Division of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Division
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Hurricane City Police Department
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Adult Probation and Parole (AP&P)
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Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) STAR 9 Aviation
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Washington City Police Department
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Hurricane Fire and Rescue
Official WCSO Media Release and Social Post
Read the official statement and full incident report directly from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office:
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Official Source: Washington County Sheriff’s Office Media Release on Facebook
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