A police investigation involving a stolen Chevrolet Cruze resulted in the closure of westbound Interstate 96 in Metro Detroit during Thursday morning rush hour. 

The closure of westbound I-96 / Jeffries Freeway was between Farmington Road / Exit 174 and Levan Road / Exit 173 in Wayne County, according to Michigan Department of Transportation traffic reports. Traffic was reported backed up to Merriman Road / Exit 175. The incident was reported to the MI Drive website at 7:41 a.m., and that section of the highway reopened shortly after 8:20 a.m.

The Michigan State Police, Second District, said its troopers from the Metro South post were on patrol in Detroit about 7:25 a.m. when they saw a Chevrolet Cruze that was reported stolen. Troopers followed that car westbound on I-96, where they got the assistance of the Livonia Police Department.

The Livonia patrol car was equipped with a Grappler device, which police set up in an attempt to force the vehicle to stop. "The Grappler is an innovative safety tool that deploys a high-strength net around a vehicle's rear tire and axle, bringing the vehicle to a controlled stop within seconds," Livonia police said in their report.

As a result of the forced stop, the vehicle caught fire, Livonia police said. First responders were able to put the fire out quickly.

Michigan State Police noted in their report that the rear axle of the Chevrolet was ripped off.

The three suspects, a 27-year-old man from Brighton who was driving the car and two female passengers, were taken into custody, the police reports said. State troopers said the driver was lodged at the Livonia police station on a charge of possession of a stolen car, while the passengers were arrested after officers learned there were outstanding warrants for the two. 

There were no injuries either to the officers or suspects, Livonia police said.

"We continue to use technology to find and stop criminals in our communities," Michigan State Police First Lt. Mike Shaw said about the apprehension. "Thanks to the Livonia Police Department and their grappler device, these suspects are now in jail without the need for a pursuit."