Santa Cruz County Sheriffs’ deputies will soon be on the streets using what the department hopes will be a powerful, but a non-lethal weapon.
The BolaWrap is a hand-held device that fires an 8-foot synthetic fiber tether that when aimed properly can wrap around someone’s person’s legs to prevent them from escaping. The BolaWrap works from 10-25 feet away.
The device is expected to be used against potentially violent subjects who are not armed with life-threatening weapons.
Sheriff’s patrol officers received training BolaWrap Wednesday. The device costs about $1,000 per device, with additional expenses for cartridges though the wrap is has a 5-year usable life.
