The arrest, made on April 20, came after a carjacking victim reported his Nissan Pathfinder had been stolen from an auto parts store parking lot.
LYNNWOOD, Wash. — Lynnwood police used a GPS tracking dart to apprehend a suspected car thief earlier this month, avoiding a high-speed pursuit.
The arrest, made on April 20, came after a carjacking victim reported his Nissan Pathfinder had been stolen from an auto parts store parking lot. Rather than chase the fleeing vehicle, officers deployed a device called StarChase that uses a compressed-air cannon to fire a GPS tracking dart coated in high-strength adhesive onto a suspect’s vehicle.
“StarChase is something we brought forward as a tool to reduce the amount of pursuits that were occurring,” said Lynnwood Police Commander Joe Dickinson.
Once the dart was attached to the stolen Pathfinder, officers were able to track it remotely. The suspect was located approximately 10 miles away, where assisting agencies deployed stop sticks. The vehicle crashed into a ravine. The suspect fled.
“The guy bailed on foot, and K9 Cannon and his handler did what they needed to do and located him not too far away,” Dickinson said.
Prosecutors have since charged the suspect with multiple offenses, including vehicle theft and resisting arrest. He has pleaded not guilty.
Department officials say the technology they use serves a broader public safety goal.
“It’s just a force multiplier for the officers to help resolve things, hopefully peacefully,” Dickinson said. “Pursuits are inherently dangerous, and so trying to do anything we can to reduce that danger to the public is a win for us.”
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