An Idaho officer used a pepper ball to subdue a car chase suspect. Here’s how it works
An Idaho police pursuit involving six agencies throughout two counties was resolved after a sheriff’s deputy deployed a powder irritant, subduing a California woman.
But what exactly was the powder irritant? It was a pepper ball, Idaho State Police spokesperson Lynn Hightower told the Idaho Statesman by email.
Pepper balls are launched with a similar gun as one used to fire paintballs. The projectiles contain a form of a chemical called capsaicin — which is used in pepper spray, though pepper balls are deployed in a powder form instead of a spray.
“Like the spray, the powder irritates the eyes, nose and throat, and because it’s deployed in a ball that breaks on impact, the powder is more easily targeted than a spray,” Hightower said.
During Tuesday afternoon’s pursuit through Payette and Canyon counties, a 34-year-old woman was finally apprehended after a Canyon County sheriff’s deputy deployed the pepper ball, Hightower said. Police said they attempted to get the woman out of the vehicle using verbal commands, but she refused.
The suspect was reported to have driven below posted speed limits, failed to stay within the lane and run a red light on the southbound lane of U.S. 95. She was arrested on suspicion of two felonies and a misdemeanor.
Medics were available to the suspect, but she refused medical care and was taken to the Canyon County Jail, Hightower said.
“Irritants like this are a very low-level of force option that can be deployed to take a noncompliant or combative individual into custody while reducing the likelihood of injury for both the officer and the suspect,” Hightower said.
While state troopers were asked to assist in the pursuit, Idaho State Police does not use pepper balls. Hightower said pepper balls are a “good tool,” but it is just not one that state police have adopted.
“This is another reason why agencies working together on calls like this is so helpful,” Hightower said. “The incident ended with everyone, including the suspect, uninjured.”
This story was originally published February 24, 2022 at 4:00 AM.
