West
Police nationwide using high-tech weapon to apprehend suspects without injury: bodycam
Several bodycam videos show police officers ending foot chases and taking down emotionally disturbed gunmen after shots rang out by wrapping them in wires from a distance.
The responding officers immobilize out-of-control suspects, who appear to be going through a mental health crisis or were on drugs, without hurting their targets and de-escalate situations that in the past might have spiraled out of control and ended in deaths.
It’s part of a “High Purpose Police Movement” that coincides with increased police run-ins with erratic suspects, who are 10 times more likely to be involved in a fatal law enforcement confrontation, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Fairfax County, Virginia, Police Chief Kevin Davis said it “prioritizes safety and emphasizes de-escalation” and it’s “expected to transform our incident resolution capacity, especially in crisis situations.”
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A suspect is heard in the bodycam video saying, “I don’t have control of my body. You’re trying to decapitate me out here,” but the new tech wraps the erratic suspect without pain and allows police to take him into custody. (Mountlake Terrace Police Department via WRAP)
As tools are pulled from law enforcement’s toolbox, including physical restraints like certain choke holds, which are banned in about half the states, they need to be replaced.
That’s where technology, like the hand-held restraint device dubbed “the Bola” comes in.
In several bodycam videos of police in Mountlake Terrace, Washington state, which were shared with Fox News Digital, responding officers yell commands like “Prepping Bola” before launching the device.
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An armed suspect is immobilized and subdued from a distance without any injuries. (Mountlake Terrace Police Department via WRAP)
In each video, the suspect is immobilized and on the ground without hand-to-hand combat or the use of a firearm. In one video, a gunman threatened to open fire.
A couple of shots were heard in the background, but no one was injured, and the video shows the captured suspect wrapped like a Spider-Man villain and taken into custody.
WATCH: Police bring down armed suspect in bodycam footage
Scot Cohen, CEO of WRAP, said the mental health crisis, especially in major cities, is worsening every year, and responding officers are dispatched to tumultuous scenes where anything can happen.
“Thousands of people who get in violent altercations with police each year are battling a mental health crisis,” Cohen told Fox News Digital. “Our tools don’t hurt people to get them the help they need, whereas other tools that have been used in the past rely on pain-compliance.”
“While there are surely many cases where force is the only way to subdue a suspect, there are many others where force is not necessary.”
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The restraint wraps wires around the suspect and immobilizes him/her. (Mountlake Terrace Police Department via WRAP)
The Fairfax County Police Department, which is near the nation’s capital, is the latest department to implement the new technology after a pilot program that started in November 2022.
“With a number of positive outcomes achieved, the department determined the deployment of BolaWrap to all patrol officers would be an invaluable asset to our police toolkit,” the Fairfax County Police Department said in a press release.
Fairfax County police in Virginia show how the hand-held restraint device called “the Bola” works. (Fairfax County Police Department)
Mental health and opioid crisis
Police and WRAP sent Fox News Digital several bodycam videos that showed a variety of situations where the BolaWrap was deployed.
In one of the videos, a suspect yells at police, “I don’t have control of my body. You’re trying to decapitate me out here.”
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Responding officers ready their BolaWrap as they chase a suspect. (Mountlake Terrace Police Department via WRAP)
It’s unclear if the subject in the video was going through a mental health crisis or was under the influence, but officers from the Mountlake Terrace grabbed the Bola and went to work.
In the video, a green laser dot appears on his leg. That’s the target. From several feet away, an officer fires the wire, and the subject quickly surrenders without incident.
Watch full bodycam video of the situation
“America is in the midst of a mental health and opioid crisis, and police have never before spent more time dealing with mentally ill suspects,” the company WRAP said in a statement.
“Their day-to-day job is now less a matter of chasing violent criminals, and more so a matter of pacifying non-compliant individuals who don’t pose a deadly threat.”
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NAMI details a list of obstacles for law enforcement when confronting EDPs – emotionally disturbed persons – or individuals on drugs.
NAMI said “use of force disproportionately impacts people with mental illness,” making it imperative for law enforcement to revamp training and utilize technology.
Officers in the Fairfax County Police Department conduct training on how to use the BolaWrap. (Fairfax County Police Department)
“Interactions between law enforcement and people with mental illness often escalate and can even be deadly,” NAMI says on its website, “often because a person in a mental health crisis may have symptoms that appear threatening or impact their ability to listen to police commands.”
While the advocacy group suggests police shouldn’t be the first on the scene with someone with mental illness, it’s not the reality.
With that said, “it is critical that law enforcement has the tools, resources and training to reduce the use of force when they do respond,” according to NAMI.
Fox News Digital’s Emily Robertson contributed to this report.
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New Mexico
McCauley Springs Fire Reaches 100% Containment
The McCauley Springs Fire in the Jemez Ranger District, east of Battleship Rock, is 100% contained at 712 acres.
The fire was reported on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. The Northern New Mexico Zone Type 3 Incident Management Team (IMT), led by Incident Commander Luke McLarty, initially managed the fire before the Southwest Area Incident Management Team 3, under Incident Commander Matt Rau, took over. From June 26 to July 4, this team handled operations, after which command returned to the Jemez Ranger District. Under a Type 4 organization, firefighters worked to cool remaining hot spots and secure firelines, reaching full containment on July 13.
Although the fire is fully contained, visitors should remain aware that burned areas can present hazards. When visiting fire-affected areas, watch for changing conditions, hazard trees, unstable terrain, and other post-fire hazards. Suppression repair work may continue in some locations, and the public is asked to use caution around personnel and equipment and provide crews with plenty of space to work.
A temporary closure order for the burned area remains in place through August 11, 2026. The full order and map can be found on the Santa Fe National Forest website under Alerts. Battleship Rock, Jemez Falls Campground and Group Area, the Jemez Falls Trailhead, San Diego Overlook, and the East Fork Trail from Battleship Rock to Highway 4 will remain closed until further notice for public safety.
A multi-disciplinary Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team evaluated the burned area to identify risks to human life, property, and critical resources. Over 80% of the fire was mapped as low soil burn severity, meaning most tree canopies and ground cover remain intact, reducing the risk of erosion and runoff. About 12% of the area showed moderate burn severity, with patchy ground cover loss and some water-repellent soils. Less than 1% was classified as high burn severity, where vegetation and soil were heavily impacted. The full summary can be found on the Santa Fe National Forest website.
For Santa Fe National Forest news and updates visit our website and social media pages (Facebook and X).
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.
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Oregon
Oregon Ducks’ Big Ten Championship Chances Entering Fall Camp
Entering the 2026 college football season, the Oregon Ducks are looking to not only win their first national championship in program history but also their second Big Ten title in the last three seasons.
When the Ducks joined the Big Ten in 2024, they kicked off their inaugural season in the conference in style, finishing the regular season undefeated at 13-0. This regular season was concluded with a thrilling 45-37 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Big Ten championship game.
Eug 040522 Lanning 02 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The Ohio State Buckeyes, however, got revenge for their loss to the Ducks at Autzen Stadium earlier in the regular season, beating Oregon 41-21 in the CFP Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl. Entering the 2026 season, here’s a look at the Ducks’ chances of winning the Big Ten for the second time.
Oregon Ducks Big Ten Title Odds: Who’s The Biggest Threat?
According to the latest betting odds by FanDuel Sportsbook, the Ducks have +270 odds to win the Big Ten championship this season. The one team ahead of them is the Ohio State Buckeyes at +190, who, believe it or not, are in search of their first Big Ten title since 2020. The Buckeyes were upset by the Indiana Hoosiers 13-10 in the Big Ten championship last season.
Among the top teams in the Big Ten next season, Ohio State poses the biggest threat to the Ducks’ chances of not only winning a conference title but also the national championship. The Buckeyes and Ducks will face off in what could be the game of the year in Columbus on Nov. 7.
As exciting as this matchup will be for college football fans, it likely won’t be the only one between the Buckeyes and Ducks. Regardless of which team wins the Nov. 7 showdown in Columbus, the Buckeyes and Ducks could match up again in the Big Ten title game and in the CFP.
Other Teams That Pose a Threat to Oregon
While the Buckeyes are the main threat to the Ducks’ Big Ten title aspirations, other teams will be worth watching. One of those teams is the defending national champions, the Indiana Hoosiers.
Despite the key losses this offseason, which include Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, coach Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers restocked talent with the addition of TCU Horned Frogs transfer quarterback Josh Hoover and Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Nick Marsh.
The only two losses that the Ducks suffered last season came against the Hoosiers. If the two face off in the Big Ten championship, Indiana looks to continue its dominance over the Ducks. The Hoosiers and Ducks don’t play each other during the regular season.
The USC Trojans, whom the Ducks will face at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Sept. 26, also look to knock off Oregon in what should be one of the top games of the first month of the college football season. Oregon coach Dan Lanning is undefeated 2-0 against USC’s Lincoln Riley and looks to extend the Ducks’ winning streak against the Trojans to five games.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Utah
Muslim man in Utah was targeted in stabbing because of his religion, police say
A Utah man told police he repeatedly stabbed a Muslim man because of the man’s faith and intended to kill him, according to court records filed Monday.
The Muslim man survived the attack Monday afternoon at a mall southeast of Salt Lake City. But he’s expected to face a long recovery after suffering more than 15 stab wounds, according to a GoFundMe page set up to help with medical expenses.
Bystanders were able to get the knife out of the suspect’s hand before police arrived at the scene at Valley Fair Mall, court records show.
The suspect, Peter Michael Larsen, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and carrying a prohibited dangerous weapon. He told police he targeted the employee over his religious beliefs, according to the court records, which didn’t list an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
The Associated Press was unable to locate any of Larsen’s immediate family in public records.
The Valley Fair Mall did not immediately respond to email and voicemail requests for comment.
Larsen, 48, was on parole for a previous violent felony, court records show. He is being held without bail.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, whose office is determining whether to pursue charges, declined to comment.
“We don’t want to say anything else until we receive the results of the investigation,” Gill said in a statement.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim advocacy group, called on elected officials to reject anti-Muslim rhetoric.
“Our nation’s political and community leaders have a moral responsibility to reject anti-Muslim hate in all its forms before more innocent people are harmed,” Nihad Awad, the organization’s national executive director, said in a statement.
In May, two teenagers killed three people and then themselves at an Islamic Center in San Diego in an attack that has left the community reeling. The AP obtained writings of both teenagers, including hateful rhetoric toward Jewish people, Muslims and Islam, as well as the LGBTQ+ community, Black people, women, and both the political left and right.
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