Tempe Police mistakenly grappled wrong car during pursuit, records show

A Tempe police officer chasing a suspect deployed a Grappler to try and stop the vehicle, but records show it was the wrong car.

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[AllenFrost-rc]

I'll bet that car was searched for at least an hour looking for something they could use to cover up their mistakes.

[rockysquirrel]

How about that? Not only did they take a year to release the footage, they doctored it to hide their criminal behavior. You oughtta be proud of your gang, Commander Hale.

[usarmyfl]

I saw the original video. They blurred it because cops can be seen smiling/laughing. Even though they know they have the wrong car, they continue to treat them as suspects.

[kenyoung]

They can afford a "grappler", but they cannot afford a car camera. And, another example of of police incompetence.

[steelurgirl]

Ridiculous And Still Was Treating Her And Her Daughter As Suspects With Guns Drawn.

[steveadrehel]

End Qualified Immunity and start holding law enforcement officers accountable for their criminal wrongdoing and lying.

[wbazile]

So, they knew it was the wrong car but continued to terrorize the people inside the car? Shameful!

[allanwidner]

"This is the wrong car, but let's continue treating them as violent felony suspects."

[Viracocha]

Criminally incompetent. As soon as they knew they had the wrong vehicle and there was a gas leak, immediately the order to holster all weapons should have been given and repeated forcefully.

[APackOfHungryGhosts]

They didn't make a mistake, they failed to do their job which is due diligence. They are literally supposed to run the plates and make a positive ID before engaging a car, to make sure it is indeed the right car. License plates exist solely for that purpose: to individualize vehicles (as the man said IN this video). They purposefully and willingly chose NOT to follow procedure, that isn't a mistake. Also, they don't have dashcams? But yet they have money for military grade weapons and equipment? All departments should be required by law to have dashcams and bodycams before being allowed to buy military grade weapons and equipment, if for no other reason than transparency; the taxpayers should be able to see exactly how those weapons and equipment are used and deployed.

[brt]

Even after realizing their f*ck up they continue treating the victim like a criminal. Outrageously ridiculous.

[dentalnovember]

Vehicle is leaking gas and the victim is “reimbursed” $500? What an insult.

[MrJacksSunshine]

The worst part is that no one will be fired for traumatizing innocent citizens.

[michaeleverest]

Video was blurred because even knowing they had the wrong vehicle, and the wrong suspect... they still had their firearms drawn and leveled on the wrong driver, and were ready to use them if she even moved an inch from what they wanted her to. She could have died and they would have shot her KNOWING she wasn't the suspect.

[keinlieb]

They only gave the driver $500? The repairs to the car alone are going to be way more than that. Especially if the car was leaking gas. Did they not even give the driver a chance to pull over?

[ToddMichaelPost]

“You don’t have to be scared…I’m only pointing my gun at you for my safety even though you did nothing wrong.” These officers should be fired, decertified and charged criminally for their negligence.

[michaelg.]

They got grapples but no dash cams. Sadly, this is not a surprising news story. We have ineptitude throughout our system of law and governance.

[billd.akaevylaz]

I like how the cop shouting commands continues terrorizing the lady after being told they have the wrong car, a gas leak, and a child in the car. He was going to continue with his BS tactical superstar routine until the other cops walked into his line of fire and said, “let’s go get the daughter.”

[AbNomal]

Officer should be charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. For most cars there are far too many of the same make, model, and color for a reasonable person to accept it as probable cause. Throw the manure calling himself an officer in jail, and compensate the victim with the chief’s salary.

[philipcollins]

And who exactly pays for the pain and mental anguish suffered by the victims of this department's sheer incompetence ? Tempe has a very poor reputation for exactly this kind of idiocy.