Livonia Police Stop Pursuit With Grappler Device

Officers used the net-launching device to disable a hit-and-run suspect's vehicle on I-275 without injuries.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Livonia Police Stop Pursuit With Grappler Device

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Should police departments in your area use devices like the Grappler to end chases?

Livonia police joined a pursuit of a hit-and-run suspect just before 6 p.m. Monday and used a Grappler device to hook the suspect's vehicle, disabling it on the shoulder of the freeway. The chase, which began in Hazel Park and went westbound on I-96 and northbound through Livonia, ended without injuries or additional property damage.

Why it matters

The incident shows how a non-lethal tool can bring a fleeing vehicle to a controlled stop, reducing the risks that high-speed pursuits pose to drivers and the public. It also illustrates how local departments are adopting specialized equipment to end chases safely.

The hit-and-run suspect was stopped on I-275 after the pursuit ended without injuries, but the source does not report charges or a court date. The investigation into the original crash in Hazel Park remains open.

The players

Leonard Stock

Leonard Stock is a Peoria, Arizona inventor and former roofer of three decades who created the Grappler to safely end police pursuits.

The details

Hazel Park police initiated the pursuit Monday night after a driver allegedly crashed and fled. Livonia officers joined the chase westbound on I-96 and northbound through Livonia, where a patrol vehicle equipped with a Grappler hooked the suspect's rear tire and brought the car to the freeway shoulder.

Monday night: Hazel Park police reported the hit-and-run pursuit.
Just before 6 p.m. Monday: Livonia police joined the chase.

Legal Context

The Grappler is a technology-based alternative to traditional pursuit tactics like ramming or spike strips, offering police a way to stop fleeing vehicles with less collateral risk. Its use in Livonia fits a broader pattern of departments adopting pursuit-termination tools as a response to the dangers of high-speed chases.

Drivers on I-275 and I-96 in Livonia were affected by the freeway pursuit and shoulder stop Monday evening. The incident shows that police may use non-lethal methods to end chases, which can reduce the risk to nearby motorists.

The takeaway

Tools like the Grappler let police end a pursuit with a controlled stop rather than a crash. For drivers, the lesson is that fleeing from police rarely ends well, and a pursuit can be stopped without injuries when officers use specialized equipment.