Madison man arrested after Monona police use Grappler device to end car chase
By: -----
Monona, WI - Monona police used a specialized device called the Grappler to stop an 18-year-old driver who refused to pull over early Sunday morning.
According to the Monona Police Department, an officer spotted two vehicles racing and driving recklessly along Highway 51 around 12:53 a.m. When the officer tried to stop one of the vehicles, the driver refused and a pursuit began.
Officers continued the chase because of favorable conditions, including little to no traffic, and coordinated with other agencies, according to Police Chief Brian Chaney. Police used tire deflation devices during the pursuit, but the suspect vehicle avoided them and kept going.
The fleeing vehicle eventually turned west onto East Broadway, striking a curb but continuing at a high speed. An officer trained with the Grappler device took the lead position and planned a deployment.
At one point during the pursuit, the driver slowed and turned on the vehicle's hazard lights but didn't immediately stop. Police said this is a tactic officers sometimes encounter during pursuits, where drivers appear to be yielding before trying to continue fleeing or create uncertainty.
To prevent the suspect from continuing to elude law enforcement, the Grappler device was used and successfully ended the pursuit without incident, Chaney said.
Officers conducted a high-risk stop and took the driver into custody. The vehicle's three passengers were originally detained but released.
Police believe a passenger may have influenced the driver's decision to slow. "If so, we appreciate that individual recognizing the danger involved and helping to encourage a better decision," Chaney said in the press release.
After being advised of his rights, the driver admitted to fleeing from officers and said he later recognized it was the Monona Police Department based on the effort made to stop him. When asked why he chose to flee, Nathan A. Abernathy told officers, "My dumb*ss wasn't thinking."
Abernathy, 18, of Madison, was arrested and taken to the Dane County Jail for felony attempted eluding. He was also issued traffic citations related to the incident, including reckless driving.