San Francisco Police Department credited a cat for ending a police standoff peacefully, according to ABC News. The standoff at the South of Market area of San Francisco began around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday when a car theft suspect ran from a traffic stop by the California Highway Patrol.
The suspect was stopped for a routine traffic stop, but while CHP was writing down his information, he ran from the stop.The suspect then jumped a fence, and climbed the fire escape of a two story building, finally coming to rest when he perched barefoot on a window and refused to come down.
Police later confirmed the Toyota Highlander he was driving during the stop had been reported stolen.
The suspect was described as "dangling from a two-story building" during the standoff with police.
As police climbed the fire escape, a large crowd gathered below. Police officials' attempts to talk to the suspect went unheeded. Police officials said the suspect's cat was brought to the scene by family members and was instrumental in coaxing the suspect down from the second story, according to Officer Grace Gatpandan's Twitter post, bringing a peaceful ending to the two hour standoff.
When the standoff ended around 6 p.m., SFPC announced that the suspect's cat was the reason for the safe ending.
Thanks to #SFPD, #CHP and #SFFD and the cat for bringing the standoff to an end pic.twitter.com/WdI0FvtIdN
— Albie Esparza (@OfficerAlbie) October 8, 2015
#SFPD uses car thief suspect's family cat to lure him from window edge at 10th & Harrison. pic.twitter.com/EgJgDCHXiO — KenWayne (@KenWayneKTVU) October 8, 2015
Never underestimate the power of a owner's love for their pet #kitten! Great job #SFPD negotiations; scene clearing pic.twitter.com/tSayPeecue — Ofc. Grace Gatpandan (@OfficerGrace) October 8, 2015
@richardSFO Hi Richard, the cat was brought to the scene by the family and assisted #SFPD with negotiating the suspect off the ledge — Ofc. Grace Gatpandan (@OfficerGrace) October 8, 2015
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