Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Donna Cobb, 45, was arrested and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility after leading officers on a pursuit through Graham County. She is charged with unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle, possession of a dangerous drug (crystal methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, and DUI-drug.
By Jon Johnson
FORT THOMAS – Local law enforcement utilized an Arizona invention called the Grappler to end an early-morning pursuit that began just west of Thatcher and went through Pima before ending just east of Fort Thomas on Tuesday.
The driver, Donna Cobb, 45, of Bylas, was believed to be operating her vehicle under the influence of crystal methamphetamine. She was arrested, and after being medically cleared was booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility. The following day she was officially charged by the Graham County Attorney’s Office for unlawful flight from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle, possession of a dangerous drug (crystal methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, and DUI-drug.
According to Graham County Sheriff’s Office reports, a deputy initially performed a traffic stop on Cobb at about 1:34 a.m. when he noticed her white, Toyota Corolla was westbound on U.S. Highway 70 traveling at about 20 mph in a center turn lane in a 55 mph zone just west of Thatcher. After following the Toyota and observing apparent driver impairment.
The deputy initiated a traffic stop just west of Palmer Lane and Cobb pulled over to the side but reportedly refused to roll down the window and when the deputy walked up to her car she quickly drove away.
The deputy initiated a pursuit, which pretty much followed the speed limits as Cobb went through Pima and continued westbound.
At that point, the decision was made to utilize a Grappler Police Bumper attached to the front of a DPS trooper vehicle.
The Grappler Police Bumper was invented in Arizona roughly six years ago as an alternative to having law enforcement perform a PIT Maneuver or utilize spike strips while attempting to stop a suspect who fails to yield to law enforcement.
The Grappler is deployed from the front of a pursuing police vehicle and utilizes a heavy-duty nylon net that wraps around the rear tire of the suspect’s vehicle, bringing it to a stop.
The DPS trooper deployed the grappler and Cobb’s rear passenger tire was completely immobilized. However, Cobb refused officers’ commands and had to be forcibly removed from the vehicle.
During a tow inventory, officers located a small bag of crystal methamphetamine and some associated drug paraphernalia.
When questioned, Cobb allegedly admitted to ingesting methamphetamine before driving. Her blood was taken for testing purposes and she was medically cleared at Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center before being booked into jail. She was given a bond of $5,000.
