Police use grappler to stop stolen vehicle in Mesa; 4 detained, 1 hospitalized

MESA, Ariz. - Four people are in custody and a fifth has been hospitalized after police deployed a grappler to stop a stolen vehicle in Mesa. 

The incident began on July 20 when police were alerted to a stolen vehicle near Country Club Drive and Hampton Avenue in Mesa, Mesa Police said.

Patrol officers and officers in unmarked vehicles responded and spotted the stolen vehicle in the parking lot of a Home Depot.

Ginnie Grant, who was in the area at the time of the incident, witnessed the event unfold.

"A lot of police cars," said Grant.

The SUV, according to Mesa Police Detective Richard Encinas, managed to get out of the parking lot and onto Country Club Drive, where an unmarked unit "was able to deploy his Grappler and bring the vehicle to a safe stop."

"Big old thing that came out from underneath the police car and grabbed this car, tied a little rope on the car, and stopped it," said Grant.

Four people inside the vehicle were taken into custody. Another person was hospitalized after he was hit with a less-than-lethal bean bag round. No identities were released.