Crime & Safety
'Spider-Man' Tool Helps Catch Suspects In Santa Cruz County
It seems like a gadget out of Marvel comics, but it's being taken very seriously by Santa Cruz County deputies.
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — Deputies in Santa Cruz County are being trained to use a non-lethal Spider-Man-like tool designed to entangle a fleeing suspect's legs and prevent getaways.
When deployed, the new BolaWrap device releases an 8-foot-long thin Kevlar tether that wraps around a suspect legs and sticks to the person via small barbs. A deputy can deploy the tether at 513 feet per second, 10-25 feet away from a suspect.
The device is now being rolled out to patrol deputies so the sheriff's office can evaluate the tool's effectiveness and determine whether it should become a permanent, less-lethal option.
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The BolaWrap "will be used when our deputies encounter people who are not cooperating or showing signs of potential violence," the sheriff's office said in a news release.
The BolaWrap will be carried on deputies' belts.
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According to the manufacturer, BolaWrap ensures a safe space between a suspect and law enforcement officer, and is not designed to cause pain.
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