Police in Coral Gables are among the first in the nation to use a device that is seen as a safe alternative to a taser or a gun.
The BolaWrap 100 is designed to stop a suspect that is not following orders from officers by tightly wrapping around a person's legs.
"It gives us the ability to physically take them under control without hurting them in using pain, so how do we not use this?" said Coral Gables police chief Ed Hudak.
An 8-foot cord with barbs on each end is deployed from the small, hand-held device.
It's painless and is meant to be used early on when police encounter a person who is noncompliant.
Police also believe it could prevent officer-involved shootings in the future.
