Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies used a specialized vehicle-stopping device to end a high-speed pursuit on state Route 503 in Battle Ground on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The incident involved a driver reported missing by Portland Police who was believed to be experiencing a mental health crisis.

According to reporting by The Reflector, the pursuit began around 10:35 a.m. after 911 callers reported a reckless driver heading north on SR-503. The vehicle, a Toyota 4Runner, had been linked to multiple hit-and-run collisions reported to the Washington State Patrol and Portland Police. Deputies located the SUV after it was involved in another collision and observed the driver traveling at speeds between 80 and 100 miles per hour.

During the pursuit, the driver repeatedly entered oncoming traffic lanes, forcing other motorists off the road to avoid head-on collisions. According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, deputies first attempted a traffic stop near the Fargher Lake Store, but the driver fled. Due to the immediate risk to public safety, a pursuit was authorized.

The chase ended in Battle Ground when deputies deployed a Grappler device—a tool that uses a heavy-duty nylon net to snag a suspect vehicle’s rear tire—on SR-503 between Main Street and Scotton Way. Although the driver initially tried to continue, the vehicle was successfully brought to a halt. The driver surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident.

Authorities confirmed the following details regarding the resolution of the incident:

• No serious injuries were reported among the public or law enforcement.
• The driver was determined not to be impaired by drugs or alcohol.
• The driver was transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Battle Ground Police Department and the Washington State Patrol. This incident follows other recent public safety responses in the region, including an Aug. 8 arrest involving a shooting over a neighborhood dispute and a July 30 rollover crash on NE 78th Street, as previously reported by Columbia Countercurrent.

Source: Clark County Sheriff’s Office use Grappler to bring pursuit to a close in Battle Ground