PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cass County Deputy Deploys Grappler to End Pursuit
Public Information Officer:
January 20th, 2022
Major Kevin Tieman,
Cass County Sheriff’s Office
816-380-8615
On Thursday night around 9:50 pm deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Missouri State Highway Patrol with a vehicle pursuit south of Harrisonville.
One Cass County Deputy deployed a tire deflation device north of Archie on Interstate 49 as the suspect traveled south at a high rate of speed. After striking the device, the vehicle began to slow as the tires began to deflate. The driver then exited Interstate 49 at Archie and went east on State Route B.
With several flat tires, the driver refused to stop and continued east at speeds of 50 mph. A deputy with the Criminal Apprehension Unit was requested to assist in the pursuit and to deploy the Grappler device. The deputy deployed the device and was able to safely bring the vehicle to a stop.
“The Grappler device did exactly what we want, bring pursuits to a quick ending. Even after deputies were able to successfully deploy a tire deflation device and slow the speed of the suspect, he continued driving and putting the public in danger. This device allowed us to stop him before he hurt someone” said Sheriff Jeff Weber.
The driver and one passenger were taken into custody for warrants. A third occupant was released.
The driver, Riccardo G. Zanoni, 47, of Stockton, MO. was arrested on a felony Failure to Appear warrant from Jackson County and a felony Drug Possession warrant from Cedar County. Zanoni was extradited to the Jackson County Jail.
The passenger, Ashton J. Finley, 29, Nevada MO. was arrested on two felony Probation Violation warrants. Finley was extradited to Vernon County Jail.
