Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies used a net-based device to stop a wanted suspect's car on I-75 and arrest him Sept. 28.

Deputies spotted Darius Ford, 28, driving northbound on I-75 near the Fowler Avenue exit at 12:41 p.m., the sheriff's office said on Facebook. I-75 serves as a major commuter corridor for South Shore residents traveling between Apollo Beach, Ruskin and Tampa.

After working to slow Ford's vehicle, a deputy deployed the Grappler—a bumper-mounted system that wraps heavy-duty netting around a targeted rear tire—bringing the car to a stop on the shoulder. Ford stepped out of the vehicle with his hands visible and was arrested without further incident before being transported to the Hillsborough County Jail.

Sixteen felony charges filed

Ford faces 16 felony charges,WTSPreported. Ten of those counts allege he provided false information after registering as a sex offender. He also faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to report for driver license renewal as a sex offender, failure to report within 48 hours of vacating a residence, and two counts of failure to report a vehicle change within 48 hours.

All charges are allegations.

Video and technology background

The sheriff's office posted video of the arrest on its Facebook page, showing the deputy pursuing Ford's car before deploying the device. The clip had drawn roughly 66,000 views and 1,000 reactions by Sept. 30.

The Grappler Police Bumper is a net-based vehicle interdiction system operated by an interior switch that lowers mechanical arms under a fleeing vehicle's wheel. According to its manufacturer, more than 165 agencies across 34 states use the device, logging over 1,500 successful captures.

The technology has gained national attention amid rising police pursuit fatalities. A U.S. Department of Transportation study found that fatal pursuits increased 41 percent between 2001 and 2021, causing more than 8,000 deaths. Thirty-six percent of those killed were innocent bystanders, according to an InvestigateTV report.

Leonard Stock, inventor of the Grappler, told InvestigateTV that "the ultimate goal of the grappler is to protect innocent civilians."

HCSO's District 4 Command, which covers the South Shore area, is based at 508 33rd St. SE in Ruskin. Residents with information can contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.