Deputies, crisis negotiators safely guide man down a cell tower

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office safely guided a man down a cell phone tower after he claimed he would jump from the more than 150-foot structure. 
 
At approximately 11:30 a.m. on February 14, 2021, an unidentified man climbed up a cell phone tower near 18125 U.S. Highway 41 North in Lutz. In an effort to get the man safely down the tower, the Crisis Negotiation Team was called out to assist deputies.
 
After about three hours of speaking and negotiating with the man, he agreed to climb down on his own. As a precautionary measure, he was treated on scene by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue personnel and later taken to a nearby hospital. He was also placed under the Baker Act. 
 
"Because of the dialogue between our crisis negotiators and deputies on the ground, this man removed himself from a very dangerous situation," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "This was the best possible outcome for today."
 
Fortunately, the man did not appear to suffer from any physical injuries throughout the course of this incident.