Livonia, MI — Following the shocking report about a stolen car’s rear axle being ripped off by a Grappler Bumper, the Livonia Police Department has released dashcam footage that clears up many questions surrounding the incident. The footage, shared on Facebook, shows the intense police chase and further confirms that the suspect involved made a series of dangerous and ill-advised decisions.
Grappler Bumper in Action
The incident, which was captured by the dashcam footage, begins with the officer coming up from behind and successfully deploying the Grappler Bumper on the suspect’s vehicle. The device, designed to safely disable a vehicle by catching its rear tire, wraps around the driver-side rear tire and begins to slow the car down.
This is where most Grappler Bumper incidents end: the suspect pulls over, and officers proceed to apprehend them. But the suspect in this case had a different idea.
Suspect’s Attempt to Flee
In the footage, the suspect, driving a stolen Chevy with two women who both have warrants, clearly doesn’t know when to quit. Instead of giving up, the suspect attempts to break free, throwing the car into reverse repeatedly in a misguided attempt to escape.
“This genius throws the Chevy in reverse, then back into drive, and tries getting free. It’s like he thinks he can break the line on the Grappler Bumper, but it doesn’t work.”
The officer closest to the suspect wisely backs up to avoid getting hit, a move that ultimately proves crucial as the suspect’s efforts to flee escalate.
The Final Attempt: Rear Axle Torn Off
After two unsuccessful attempts to reverse and break the Grappler Bumper line, the suspect tries again — this time with full force, and with dire consequences.
The footage shows the suspect gunning the car forward, causing the rear axle to tear off from the vehicle, a shocking and rare outcome. The axle can be seen flying out from under the car as it lurches forward.
“We’ve never seen anything like this before, but something tells us this isn’t the last time.”
Despite the dramatic outcome, the car continued moving for a short time before the footage cuts off. While it’s unclear whether the driver attempted to drive the now front-wheel-drive vehicle, earlier reports indicated a small fire started in the car.
The Aftermath: Fire and Investigation
After the axle was torn off, it’s unclear whether the suspect tried driving the car away or if the chassis scraped the pavement, generating enough friction to start a fire in the vehicle. The footage cuts before we get to see the fire, leaving it to speculation.
Nonetheless, the Livonia Police are continuing their investigation, and the incident has added fuel to discussions about the effectiveness of the Grappler Bumper and the choices made by suspects trying to evade law enforcement.
The suspect’s reckless driving, combined with the stolen vehicle and involvement of wanted individuals, highlights the dangers of high-speed chases and the lengths some will go to avoid capture.
What do you think of this intense incident? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
