Santa Cruz officer coaxes man off ledge at wharf

Santa Cruz police say a veteran officer helped stop a man from hurting himself Tuesday afternoon.

Bystanders called 911 because they saw a man off the ledge of the Santa Cruz wharf. Officers responded, including Sgt. Bill Azua.

He’s trained in crisis intervention tactics, and used some of those to de-escalate the situation. He engaged the man, who was on narcotics and made a connection with him by offering him some clam chowder. After speaking with him and building a relationship with him, he managed to coax him down.

Police say while the fall might not have been fatal, it would have placed the man along with rescue swimmers in jeopardy.

After he got off the ledge, the man was taken into custody for being under the influence of narcotics and probation violation.