A suspected car thief in San Francisco was prepared to take his own life on Wednesday after he was cornered by police. The man climbed out onto a ledge and threated to jump.
Earlier standoff @ 10th & Harrison. Subj ran from stolen veh. #SFPD negotiators talked him down. #CHP made arrest pic.twitter.com/4dNoWup0ba
— CHP San Francisco (@CHPSanFrancisco) October 8, 2015
Police spent three hours trying to talk the man down from the ledge. At that time his family showed up with his cat.
“I don’t remember ever using a cat before, but it worked.” //t.co/f1BKv2Uz35 pic.twitter.com/0vIDm4x8Ut — Vivian Horrors (@VivianHo) October 8, 2015
Within 45 minutes of the cat’s arrival, the man was talked down.
“Using his pet, hostage negotiators were able to persuade him to go back inside the building, come down the stairs and surrender without incident,” SF Gate said.
The police officers allowed the man to spend a few minutes with his cat before they took him in for questioning and likely some mental counseling.
Thks to #SFPD negotiators for resolving standoff from earlier #CHP foot bail. Suspect’s cat helped to calm him pic.twitter.com/Mc5FJEBs4y
— CHP San Francisco (@CHPSanFrancisco) October 8, 2015
“I don’t remember ever using a cat before, but it worked,” Albie Esparza, a police spokesman, said. “The guy voluntarily came out of the window and opened the door and was taken into custody without incident.”
“Never underestimate the power of the love between people and their pets. I think it was great to think outside the box like the officers did. It made enough of an impact on this person to bring him down and come to his senses.”
