1
00:00:14,620 --> 00:00:16,103
He's got a knife in his hand.
2
00:00:16,275 --> 00:00:17,827
He's got it wrapped
around her neck.
3
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:19,171
We can't just leave him there.
4
00:00:26,793 --> 00:00:30,000
We don't know if they're armed
or even ready to fight.
5
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,206
The biggest thing
that I have to worry about
6
00:00:38,379 --> 00:00:40,517
is not knocking him off
the cliff and killing him.
7
00:00:44,896 --> 00:00:46,724
Sheriff's department!
Come outside!
8
00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,000
Patrolman Lee Rose
is the first responder.
9
00:01:41,931 --> 00:01:45,689
We have the ability in
our cars to hear live 911 calls,
10
00:01:45,862 --> 00:01:47,517
and I remember hearing
it was hectic,
11
00:01:47,689 --> 00:01:49,688
someone screaming
about something about a knife
12
00:01:49,689 --> 00:01:51,275
or that someone had been cut.
13
00:01:56,275 --> 00:01:59,688
Our department had had dealings
with Mr. Appleby before.
14
00:01:59,689 --> 00:02:02,586
He had assaulted
and strangulated that victim
15
00:02:02,758 --> 00:02:03,724
in the past as well.
16
00:02:09,482 --> 00:02:10,586
- Hi.
- Hurry, hurry.
17
00:02:25,862 --> 00:02:27,895
I saw the people
there, and then they told me
18
00:02:27,896 --> 00:02:29,171
he's cut her.
19
00:02:29,172 --> 00:02:32,171
I realized that this was
probably beyond a normal
20
00:02:32,172 --> 00:02:34,793
domestic call at this point
and that he was armed
21
00:02:34,965 --> 00:02:36,551
and that she was injured.
22
00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:40,482
Get out!
23
00:02:47,482 --> 00:02:51,378
I see Mr. Appleby holding
our female victim as a hostage,
24
00:02:51,379 --> 00:02:53,413
using her as a human shield.
25
00:02:53,586 --> 00:02:54,895
He's got a knife in his hand,
26
00:02:54,896 --> 00:02:57,000
and he's got it wrapped
around her neck.
27
00:03:29,620 --> 00:03:31,896
It was a fairly small landing
28
00:03:32,034 --> 00:03:35,517
and a surprisingly sturdy
door on this house.
29
00:03:35,689 --> 00:03:38,620
It felt like forever trying
to get this door open.
30
00:03:55,517 --> 00:03:59,275
I was so relieved when I was
able to get the door open.
31
00:03:59,448 --> 00:04:01,586
It felt like every second
mattered at that point.
32
00:04:11,103 --> 00:04:12,931
And once I got close
to the door,
33
00:04:13,068 --> 00:04:14,586
I can hear him talking to her.
34
00:04:20,724 --> 00:04:22,586
A sergeant arrives as backup.
35
00:04:42,793 --> 00:04:44,586
Go away!
36
00:04:50,793 --> 00:04:53,379
He tries to kick it,
but it's not opening.
37
00:04:53,551 --> 00:04:55,724
Uh, but it was very relieving
to finally have another,
38
00:04:55,896 --> 00:04:57,379
at least another person there.
39
00:05:06,172 --> 00:05:07,931
While we were trying
to open the door,
40
00:05:08,068 --> 00:05:10,724
I could hear Mr. Appleby
yelling and screaming at us.
41
00:05:10,896 --> 00:05:13,000
He was extremely erratic.
42
00:05:15,482 --> 00:05:17,000
Essentially something to,
"Go away,"
43
00:05:17,137 --> 00:05:19,620
and he'll quit or "Go away"
and he'll come out,
44
00:05:19,793 --> 00:05:22,620
which obviously we don't have
the ability to do.
45
00:05:22,793 --> 00:05:24,895
We can't just exit the house
and leave him there.
46
00:05:24,896 --> 00:05:27,103
We know we have to rescue
her from him.
47
00:05:37,482 --> 00:05:39,793
I'm hoping that she's still
alive at this point.
48
00:05:41,896 --> 00:05:44,275
We couldn't hear her saying
anything or talking
49
00:05:44,448 --> 00:05:48,000
or screaming, so I had no
indication that she was
50
00:05:48,172 --> 00:05:49,827
actually still alive
in that room.
51
00:05:54,793 --> 00:05:57,481
As officers struggle
to break the door down,
52
00:05:57,482 --> 00:06:00,172
Detective Robert Toussant
arrives.
53
00:06:26,827 --> 00:06:29,586
So at this point, Patrolman
Toussant arrives on scene.
54
00:06:29,758 --> 00:06:31,792
I can see that he has his rifle
with him.
55
00:06:31,793 --> 00:06:34,310
So I moved him into
that assaulter position
56
00:06:34,482 --> 00:06:35,688
and took my step back.
57
00:06:35,689 --> 00:06:38,688
The rifle gives him a lot more
accuracy and firepower.
58
00:06:38,689 --> 00:06:41,171
Uh, it is the primary weapon
of choice
59
00:06:41,172 --> 00:06:43,896
if we're gonna be going
into a situation like this.
60
00:06:46,275 --> 00:06:47,586
Yep.
61
00:06:58,103 --> 00:06:59,620
I was the only
one that grabbed my rifle
62
00:06:59,793 --> 00:07:01,068
out of the car.
63
00:07:01,241 --> 00:07:03,689
and I know that the best place
for me is gonna be
64
00:07:03,862 --> 00:07:06,172
in the front as
the lethal cover.
65
00:07:24,275 --> 00:07:26,413
I could hear
George Appleby say that
66
00:07:26,586 --> 00:07:28,068
he was opening the door.
67
00:07:28,241 --> 00:07:31,481
And I kind of remember
thinking, there's no way that
68
00:07:31,482 --> 00:07:34,172
you could be opening the door
right now from over there,
69
00:07:34,344 --> 00:07:36,172
I don't hear the locking
mechanism moving
70
00:07:36,344 --> 00:07:39,103
and I hear your voice in another
place inside of that room.
71
00:07:42,827 --> 00:07:44,896
His words
and actions are not matching,
72
00:07:45,034 --> 00:07:47,896
if she was free she would have
came to the door herself
and unlocked it.
73
00:07:48,034 --> 00:07:49,999
You're just trying to say
whatever that you can
74
00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:51,517
to get us to go away.
75
00:08:25,275 --> 00:08:26,724
Here you go.
76
00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:36,793
The officers using
the Halligan tool
77
00:08:36,965 --> 00:08:38,309
struggled a little bit--
78
00:08:38,310 --> 00:08:41,103
that our Halligan tool from the
back of our cars were very long,
79
00:08:41,275 --> 00:08:44,274
and it was a very narrow
hallway that we were working in,
80
00:08:44,275 --> 00:08:47,171
uh, so it became hard to get
the room to work it.
81
00:08:53,724 --> 00:08:55,000
Get it open!
82
00:09:07,551 --> 00:09:08,517
Get it open!
83
00:09:32,379 --> 00:09:35,896
George didn't give us any
other option other than
84
00:09:36,034 --> 00:09:37,103
to shoot him,
85
00:09:37,275 --> 00:09:39,379
it was to the point where
we have to shoot him
86
00:09:39,551 --> 00:09:41,172
to save Anita.
87
00:09:47,758 --> 00:09:49,689
You can see
her neck is bleeding.
88
00:09:49,862 --> 00:09:51,274
You can see that
he still has the knife
89
00:09:51,275 --> 00:09:52,482
pressed against her body.
90
00:09:52,655 --> 00:09:55,274
At one point,
Anita does move her head,
91
00:09:55,275 --> 00:09:59,482
and they kind of separate, which
gives me the opportunity, um,
92
00:09:59,655 --> 00:10:00,793
to take a safe shot.
93
00:10:15,103 --> 00:10:17,792
Immediately following
the two shots that were fired,
94
00:10:17,793 --> 00:10:20,689
um, the rest of the officers
on scene rushed in
95
00:10:20,862 --> 00:10:23,792
to grab Anita and get her
out of there.
96
00:10:23,793 --> 00:10:25,482
We know that she needs
medical attention.
97
00:10:27,310 --> 00:10:31,000
59-year-old George Appleby has
a rap sheet including
98
00:10:31,137 --> 00:10:34,792
domestic violence,
drug trafficking, and assault.
99
00:10:34,793 --> 00:10:36,758
He is confirmed dead
at the scene.
100
00:11:05,586 --> 00:11:08,379
Following the shooting
after we got back outside,
101
00:11:09,310 --> 00:11:10,482
that was really when...
102
00:11:12,172 --> 00:11:14,758
the-- the seriousness
of the situation really hit me.
103
00:11:14,931 --> 00:11:17,999
That's when my heart rate felt
like it was up super high
104
00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,585
and, you know, a little bit
shaky for a half a second
105
00:11:20,586 --> 00:11:23,481
and just needed to take
that minute to breathe
106
00:11:23,482 --> 00:11:24,689
and calm down.
107
00:11:44,103 --> 00:11:46,481
Ultimately, I felt bad
that Mr. Appleby put us
108
00:11:46,482 --> 00:11:48,206
into this position.
109
00:11:48,379 --> 00:11:52,378
It was his actions that forced
us to take the action we did.
110
00:11:55,413 --> 00:11:58,275
The victim was
Appleby's girlfriend.
111
00:11:58,448 --> 00:12:01,965
She is treated for superficial
cuts to her neck and body.
112
00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:05,482
We saved a woman's life,
113
00:12:05,655 --> 00:12:07,689
which is wild to sit
here and say.
114
00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,000
You train for it, but also,
115
00:12:13,275 --> 00:12:16,000
you don't know that you'll ever
actually be in that position,
116
00:12:16,137 --> 00:12:19,068
but it is-- it is definitely
a heavy thing, uh,
117
00:12:19,241 --> 00:12:20,379
taking someone else's life.
118
00:12:31,896 --> 00:12:33,792
The five responding officers
119
00:12:33,793 --> 00:12:36,378
are all honored
for their bravery.
120
00:12:36,379 --> 00:12:39,793
They receive the 2024
Top Cops Award
121
00:12:39,965 --> 00:12:43,068
from the National Association
of Police Organizations
122
00:12:43,241 --> 00:12:46,068
in recognition of their
handling of the incident.
123
00:12:47,689 --> 00:12:50,862
Ultimately, I'm very happy,
you know, with the outcome.
124
00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:52,895
You know, we work
together extremely well,
125
00:12:52,896 --> 00:12:54,792
and I'm proud of the work
that we did.
126
00:12:54,793 --> 00:12:56,895
You know, while we ended up
having to take a life,
127
00:12:56,896 --> 00:12:58,206
we did rescue a hostage.
128
00:12:59,482 --> 00:13:02,965
What we're asked to do is
rescue people in harm's way,
129
00:13:03,103 --> 00:13:05,000
and, you know,
we did our job that day.
130
00:13:36,482 --> 00:13:39,758
Entering-auto suspects,
they're usually involved
131
00:13:39,931 --> 00:13:42,379
in more than just breaking
into cars.
132
00:13:43,379 --> 00:13:45,896
And they will do
what's necessary
133
00:13:46,034 --> 00:13:48,000
to prevent themselves
from being caught.
134
00:13:51,793 --> 00:13:53,482
As I'm going down the hill...
135
00:13:57,517 --> 00:13:59,758
I see the car that was
described to us.
136
00:14:08,965 --> 00:14:10,068
They know I'm there now.
137
00:14:25,517 --> 00:14:28,379
10-80 was code
for we're in pursuit.
138
00:14:29,413 --> 00:14:33,172
It is extremely important
to keep my stress levels down.
139
00:14:40,620 --> 00:14:43,585
As the vehicle
approaches the intersection,
140
00:14:43,586 --> 00:14:46,482
Peachtree Sergeant Keith Isaac
is ready and waiting.
141
00:14:48,172 --> 00:14:51,000
I had been sitting
at the intersection,
142
00:14:51,172 --> 00:14:54,000
highway 54 and Planterra,
for a couple of seconds.
143
00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,517
When I hear 1080,
my adrenaline starts.
144
00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,793
54, Planterra.
145
00:15:17,413 --> 00:15:19,551
Vehicle's
in the opposite lane of travel.
146
00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,068
My mind like,
"Oh my God, this is bad."
147
00:15:30,482 --> 00:15:32,103
We've got to get
this car stopped.
148
00:15:34,379 --> 00:15:37,379
The PIT maneuver is the best
option that we have.
149
00:15:40,896 --> 00:15:43,172
It feels like time is
slowing down.
150
00:15:43,344 --> 00:15:46,068
It's almost like a video game.
151
00:16:03,379 --> 00:16:06,895
When I see the car hit the curb,
I'm thinking that we've got it.
152
00:16:10,379 --> 00:16:14,000
I know that there are a couple
more officers right behind me.
153
00:16:23,793 --> 00:16:27,379
My assumption is that those
two are going to go in
154
00:16:27,551 --> 00:16:30,378
and pin the vehicle in so
that it can't go any further.
155
00:16:33,862 --> 00:16:37,310
The passenger door opens up,
and the passenger looks like
156
00:16:37,482 --> 00:16:39,517
they're about to take off
running across traffic.
157
00:16:48,103 --> 00:16:49,689
54, .
158
00:16:49,862 --> 00:16:52,103
Sergeant Isaac catches up
with the pursuit.
159
00:16:53,689 --> 00:16:55,862
As I am approaching
the intersection,
160
00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:59,655
I can see Officer Akins make
contact with the vehicle.
161
00:17:02,172 --> 00:17:05,688
The vehicle began
to move forward.
162
00:17:05,689 --> 00:17:06,896
They're not giving up.
163
00:17:08,896 --> 00:17:10,620
I saw the passenger door open.
164
00:17:10,793 --> 00:17:14,206
I was like, "OK, all right,
I'm gonna ram it."
165
00:17:33,896 --> 00:17:36,758
They were able
to get off of the curb
166
00:17:36,931 --> 00:17:39,793
with their broken wheel
that is crooked.
167
00:17:41,448 --> 00:17:45,379
It 100% confirmed the--
the fact that these guys
168
00:17:45,551 --> 00:17:47,000
weren't gonna stop.
169
00:17:48,379 --> 00:17:49,482
They're on PIT.
170
00:17:52,379 --> 00:17:54,171
When I rammed the vehicle,
171
00:17:54,172 --> 00:17:56,586
I then became
the primary officer.
172
00:17:58,379 --> 00:18:01,241
OK-- we're in it now.
We gotta stop it.
173
00:18:10,068 --> 00:18:13,793
As I was behind the vehicle,
I attempted to PIT it again.
174
00:18:18,655 --> 00:18:21,241
Slide into the civilian truck.
175
00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,862
It was just a clip.
I'm thankful for that.
176
00:18:27,896 --> 00:18:29,103
This could end badly.
177
00:18:30,172 --> 00:18:33,103
We don't have control
of pursuits.
178
00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:38,034
But we try to end it
as soon as possible
179
00:18:38,206 --> 00:18:41,275
and take that control back
before someone gets hurt.
180
00:18:47,793 --> 00:18:50,103
There wasn't no
time to think about nothing.
181
00:18:50,275 --> 00:18:51,379
It was showtime.
182
00:19:00,793 --> 00:19:03,862
Two men jump out of the car
and take off running.
183
00:19:11,896 --> 00:19:15,034
I see that Sergeant Isaac is
chasing after the male on foot.
184
00:19:15,206 --> 00:19:17,688
The other male goes
the opposite direction.
185
00:19:17,689 --> 00:19:20,551
I'm trying to parallel
the suspect in my vehicle.
186
00:19:37,379 --> 00:19:40,274
I tell him that I have
a police K-9,
187
00:19:40,275 --> 00:19:42,586
and my dog is going to bite him.
188
00:19:43,586 --> 00:19:46,275
I did not have a dog
at the time.
189
00:19:46,448 --> 00:19:47,793
Uh, I don't have a dog now.
190
00:19:49,379 --> 00:19:53,793
It was almost instantaneous
of me saying that I had a dog,
191
00:19:53,965 --> 00:19:56,965
did the suspect give up,
and he was able to be arrested.
192
00:19:58,034 --> 00:19:59,689
Nobody wants to get bit
by a dog.
193
00:20:30,034 --> 00:20:33,000
A lot of times criminals
like to play the victim...
194
00:20:33,137 --> 00:20:35,481
...and they don't take
responsibility
195
00:20:35,482 --> 00:20:36,586
for their actions.
196
00:20:40,172 --> 00:20:42,378
He respected
the fact that he had been caught
197
00:20:42,379 --> 00:20:43,689
and that he had given up.
198
00:20:46,793 --> 00:20:48,895
But we still had
one outstanding.
199
00:21:12,103 --> 00:21:16,724
The suspect ran across
Highway 74 into a wooded area.
200
00:21:21,310 --> 00:21:24,793
Tracking someone in that
environment is very difficult.
201
00:21:29,482 --> 00:21:30,896
A lot of places to hide.
202
00:21:33,275 --> 00:21:36,793
We don't know if they're armed
or even ready to fight.
203
00:21:45,586 --> 00:21:47,275
In that area, you have garages.
204
00:21:47,448 --> 00:21:51,172
You have wooded area.
You have storage units.
205
00:21:52,034 --> 00:21:53,792
I don't have anything
to protect me
206
00:21:53,793 --> 00:21:55,344
other than what's around me.
207
00:22:20,206 --> 00:22:22,448
As the two officers begin
a search of the woods
208
00:22:22,620 --> 00:22:25,344
and surrounding properties,
patrol commander
209
00:22:25,517 --> 00:22:28,689
Lieutenant Hyatt is
briefed on the situation.
210
00:22:28,862 --> 00:22:31,896
Luckily, our K-9 officer was
nearby and responded
211
00:22:32,034 --> 00:22:34,137
to the area and immediately
was able to get his K-9 partner
212
00:22:34,310 --> 00:22:35,688
on the ground
and begin tracking.
213
00:22:35,689 --> 00:22:38,275
Typically, we try
to saturate the area.
214
00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,068
The moment that
those subjects lay on foot,
215
00:22:46,241 --> 00:22:48,379
danger doesn't subside,
it changes.
216
00:22:50,103 --> 00:22:51,482
It's a whole
different set of factors
217
00:22:51,655 --> 00:22:53,274
you're dealing with at the time.
218
00:22:53,275 --> 00:22:55,068
Most of the time,
they are armed.
219
00:23:15,586 --> 00:23:17,586
20 minutes into the search,
220
00:23:17,758 --> 00:23:19,896
there's still no sign
of the suspect.
221
00:23:20,034 --> 00:23:22,379
But officers aren't done yet.
222
00:23:36,482 --> 00:23:38,793
Right, right...
223
00:23:38,965 --> 00:23:40,172
Right there.
224
00:23:54,586 --> 00:23:55,689
Down to the left.
225
00:24:26,275 --> 00:24:28,896
The suspect still
hasn't been found,
226
00:24:29,034 --> 00:24:32,620
but officers know
he must be close by.
227
00:24:35,068 --> 00:24:37,379
That subject
was contained a little bit.
228
00:24:38,586 --> 00:24:40,000
We had a perimeter set up.
229
00:24:41,275 --> 00:24:44,758
K-9 gets there,
and their job is to...
230
00:24:45,896 --> 00:24:47,172
you know, sniff out the subject.
231
00:25:44,482 --> 00:25:45,758
When the suspects,
232
00:25:45,931 --> 00:25:49,482
when they were taken into
custody, it was very relieving.
233
00:25:51,241 --> 00:25:52,482
I end up
searching the vehicle,
234
00:25:52,655 --> 00:25:56,000
and I find all types
of evidence to support
235
00:25:56,137 --> 00:25:59,379
that these two gentlemen
were committing entering auto.
236
00:26:00,379 --> 00:26:04,068
I find rubber gloves,
a window punch,
237
00:26:04,241 --> 00:26:07,620
which are commonly used
to bust out windows.
238
00:26:10,068 --> 00:26:12,172
And then I find in the back
of the vehicle,
239
00:26:12,344 --> 00:26:15,758
purses and wallets
containing personal items
240
00:26:15,931 --> 00:26:19,895
such as credit cards,
driver's licenses.
241
00:26:19,896 --> 00:26:23,586
And the fact that they're
keeping people's credit cards
242
00:26:23,758 --> 00:26:26,137
makes me believe that
they're also planning to use
243
00:26:26,310 --> 00:26:29,482
this information
for fraudulent activities.
244
00:26:41,551 --> 00:26:42,619
OK, just stay right there...
245
00:26:42,620 --> 00:26:45,448
Both men plead guilty
to multiple charges,
246
00:26:45,620 --> 00:26:50,000
including identity fraud
and obstruction of an officer.
247
00:26:50,137 --> 00:26:53,172
Anthony Dixon is sentenced
to three years in prison
248
00:26:53,344 --> 00:26:55,448
and seven years probation.
249
00:26:55,620 --> 00:26:58,793
Anisha Christopher is sentenced
to two years in prison
250
00:26:58,965 --> 00:27:00,482
and eight years probation.
251
00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:04,448
Entering auto
is a serious crime.
252
00:27:04,620 --> 00:27:06,862
Some people may leave
a firearm in their car
253
00:27:07,000 --> 00:27:08,965
and their firearm gets stolen.
254
00:27:09,103 --> 00:27:12,000
Um, and now it's in the hands
of a criminal.
255
00:27:12,137 --> 00:27:16,241
They can steal your identity,
empty out your bank accounts.
256
00:27:16,413 --> 00:27:19,172
It's the start
of a larger crime.
257
00:27:21,241 --> 00:27:24,965
The civilian vehicle,
I just hit his tail light.
258
00:27:25,103 --> 00:27:27,172
But after that,
everybody was fine.
259
00:27:28,275 --> 00:27:30,275
Overall, nobody got hurt.
260
00:27:31,172 --> 00:27:32,895
My officers are going home.
261
00:27:32,896 --> 00:27:36,655
Uh, the suspects are gonna jail,
and I'm OK with that.
262
00:28:21,793 --> 00:28:24,965
The local fire department is
dispatched to the scene,
263
00:28:25,103 --> 00:28:28,378
but the rescue needs
to come from the air.
264
00:28:28,379 --> 00:28:31,793
59 miles away,
the Sonoma County Sheriff's
265
00:28:31,965 --> 00:28:34,275
helicopter team
is called into action.
266
00:28:35,586 --> 00:28:38,378
Our helicopter
program is a little unique.
267
00:28:38,379 --> 00:28:40,586
Law enforcement is
our primary mission,
268
00:28:40,758 --> 00:28:42,689
but we also have search
and rescue.
269
00:28:43,793 --> 00:28:47,274
The subject was about 50 feet
off the top of the trail
270
00:28:47,275 --> 00:28:49,103
and was clinging
to the cliffs below.
271
00:28:50,275 --> 00:28:52,068
We better get there fast.
272
00:28:52,241 --> 00:28:53,688
This is
life-or-death situation
273
00:28:53,689 --> 00:28:55,274
and time is of the essence.
274
00:28:57,172 --> 00:29:00,792
25 minutes after receiving
after receiving the 911 call,
275
00:29:00,793 --> 00:29:03,274
the helicopter team
arrives at the cliff
276
00:29:03,275 --> 00:29:04,862
and starts its search.
277
00:29:06,551 --> 00:29:07,655
The Southern
Marin Fire Department
278
00:29:07,827 --> 00:29:09,448
had arrived a little
bit before we did.
279
00:29:11,482 --> 00:29:13,068
There was a firefighter
at the top of the cliff
280
00:29:13,241 --> 00:29:15,172
that was pointing
a flashlight down,
281
00:29:15,344 --> 00:29:18,379
so I started using the thermal
camera to scan the cliffs.
282
00:29:32,689 --> 00:29:34,896
I saw him
with a thermal imager.
283
00:29:35,034 --> 00:29:37,862
I could see that he was so
far up from the rocks,
284
00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:39,758
I'd estimate 40 to 50 feet.
285
00:29:46,137 --> 00:29:47,793
We realized right off the bat,
286
00:29:49,103 --> 00:29:52,344
it was life-or-death,
clinging to the cliff.
287
00:29:54,379 --> 00:29:55,965
Waiting for help
at the cliff top
288
00:29:56,103 --> 00:29:59,344
is the man's partner,
Tasha, who called 911.
289
00:30:00,896 --> 00:30:02,103
It was late afternoon,
290
00:30:02,275 --> 00:30:05,000
and we started walking
down the beach.
291
00:30:07,448 --> 00:30:13,274
Cody decided that this cliff
looked just so enticing
292
00:30:13,275 --> 00:30:15,000
and that he should climb it.
293
00:30:16,793 --> 00:30:18,793
I could see that chunks of dirt
294
00:30:18,965 --> 00:30:20,895
and sand were starting
to slide off.
295
00:30:20,896 --> 00:30:23,137
There were rocks that
had started to crumble.
296
00:30:24,758 --> 00:30:27,275
He just turned.
He didn't say anything.
297
00:30:27,448 --> 00:30:30,172
He just shook his head no.
And I knew he was stuck.
298
00:30:33,896 --> 00:30:35,379
It was very high.
299
00:30:36,379 --> 00:30:39,862
A fall like that, I don't know
how he would have survived
300
00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:41,379
something like that,
if I'm honest.
301
00:30:48,379 --> 00:30:50,862
There was a spiral of thoughts.
302
00:30:51,758 --> 00:30:53,000
How do you explain this?
303
00:30:53,137 --> 00:30:54,896
How do I call his mother
and tell her, like,
304
00:30:55,862 --> 00:31:01,793
"Cody fell and he's paralyzed,"
or worse yet, "he's dead"?
305
00:31:04,241 --> 00:31:06,481
Cody meets me on the porch
every day when I get home.
306
00:31:11,275 --> 00:31:12,379
No one would have been there.
307
00:31:20,172 --> 00:31:21,137
Oh, God.
308
00:31:44,103 --> 00:31:45,274
Our helicopter unit,
309
00:31:45,275 --> 00:31:47,172
we use what's called vertical
reference long-line.
310
00:31:48,586 --> 00:31:51,965
We're one of the only aircraft
in the nation that can do that.
311
00:31:57,655 --> 00:32:00,378
What I do is,
I hook a 100- or 200-foot rope
312
00:32:00,379 --> 00:32:02,378
up to the bottom of the belly
of the aircraft.
313
00:32:07,379 --> 00:32:09,378
We remove
the door of the helicopter
314
00:32:09,379 --> 00:32:11,965
so that the pilot can look down
and maneuver the helicopter
315
00:32:12,103 --> 00:32:13,896
in order to put us
into the correct position.
316
00:32:43,137 --> 00:32:46,448
At nighttime,
the lack of depth perception
317
00:32:46,620 --> 00:32:50,862
that I have looking down
the line is much more difficult.
318
00:32:52,275 --> 00:32:54,758
The key thing is not to let
that pressure get to you,
319
00:32:54,931 --> 00:32:56,689
'cause that's gonna add stress.
320
00:32:56,862 --> 00:32:58,793
You're gonna start over
controlling the aircraft
321
00:32:58,965 --> 00:33:00,965
and making things worse.
322
00:33:18,034 --> 00:33:21,310
Every time I go on the line,
I'm still a little bit nervous.
323
00:33:23,793 --> 00:33:25,688
My fear was that he was
just going to let go,
324
00:33:25,689 --> 00:33:27,448
or he was gonna lose
his footing and slide
325
00:33:27,620 --> 00:33:28,793
and fall down the cliff.
326
00:33:32,689 --> 00:33:35,103
We need to be fast,
but we need to be smooth
327
00:33:35,275 --> 00:33:36,585
so we don't blow
him off the cliff.
328
00:34:15,965 --> 00:34:18,965
As Pilot Cooper was
flying me into Cody's location,
329
00:34:19,103 --> 00:34:21,275
I started to get a spin
on the bottom of the lines.
330
00:34:26,896 --> 00:34:29,275
Rotor wash coming
from the helicopter is
331
00:34:29,448 --> 00:34:31,000
the air as it comes off
the rotor blades,
332
00:34:31,137 --> 00:34:32,655
kind of spins in like a spiral.
333
00:34:45,862 --> 00:34:47,655
I kept trying
to reach out and grab the cliff.
334
00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:59,172
Helicopters
by nature are very unstable.
335
00:34:59,344 --> 00:35:01,379
They're also very,
very sensitive in the controls.
336
00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:08,344
The biggest thing
that I have to worry about
337
00:35:08,517 --> 00:35:11,344
is not smashing
Larry into Cody,
338
00:35:11,517 --> 00:35:13,000
knocking him off the cliff
and killing him.
339
00:35:50,793 --> 00:35:53,793
And eventually, Pilot Cooper
was able to just slide me
340
00:35:53,965 --> 00:35:55,655
a little bit closer.
341
00:35:58,103 --> 00:35:59,896
And as soon as
I got close enough,
342
00:36:00,103 --> 00:36:02,034
I could grab onto
the cliff myself.
343
00:36:12,137 --> 00:36:15,551
I'm just hopefully seconds
away from rescuing him,
344
00:36:15,724 --> 00:36:17,793
and there's still a lot
that can go wrong.
345
00:36:19,137 --> 00:36:21,275
I was having kind of trouble
finding my footing,
346
00:36:21,448 --> 00:36:23,758
so I was sliding a little bit
as I was behind him.
347
00:36:35,758 --> 00:36:37,689
The ebbing tide
below the helicopter
348
00:36:37,862 --> 00:36:40,965
was making it really tricky
to hold my position.
349
00:36:43,172 --> 00:36:46,068
You know, the nighttime adds
an increased risk.
350
00:36:50,103 --> 00:36:52,448
It's so dark out,
you have nothing
351
00:36:52,620 --> 00:36:54,206
but what's on the helicopter.
352
00:36:56,689 --> 00:36:58,551
In my mind,
as I'm seeing them
353
00:36:58,724 --> 00:37:02,792
lower this guy to retrieve Cody
from the side of the cliff,
354
00:37:02,793 --> 00:37:06,241
for me, it felt like
this finish line.
355
00:37:06,413 --> 00:37:08,586
Like,
"OK, he's right behind him."
356
00:37:08,758 --> 00:37:10,172
He has to be close
to getting him.
357
00:37:23,689 --> 00:37:27,000
It's a risk trying
to pull his hands off.
358
00:37:27,137 --> 00:37:29,965
My fear is that his hands
and his body are the only thing
359
00:37:30,103 --> 00:37:31,655
that's keeping him
from sliding down
360
00:37:31,827 --> 00:37:33,103
and falling off this cliff.
361
00:37:51,965 --> 00:37:55,448
I could obviously tell that
Cody was-- was scared.
362
00:37:55,620 --> 00:37:58,171
And, you know, so I told him,
"I got you, brother,"
363
00:37:58,172 --> 00:38:00,379
just trying to kind of calm
him a little bit.
364
00:38:05,137 --> 00:38:07,896
When the line went tight
and they came off the cliff,
365
00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:12,103
I actually did a big exhale
in the aircraft.
366
00:38:57,586 --> 00:39:00,378
The huge sigh of relief came
when they strapped me in,
367
00:39:00,379 --> 00:39:02,172
and they finally lifted me
off the cliff.
368
00:39:08,689 --> 00:39:11,000
That moment
of when I let go--
369
00:39:11,137 --> 00:39:14,275
was the big moment that
I knew I was safe.
370
00:39:16,758 --> 00:39:19,689
I was talking to one
of the emergency personnel,
371
00:39:19,862 --> 00:39:22,482
and I turned
and I saw Cody walking.
372
00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:26,688
And it was this...
373
00:39:26,689 --> 00:39:30,034
multiple sensations, as this
entire experience has been,
374
00:39:30,206 --> 00:39:31,689
all these different feelings.
375
00:39:32,689 --> 00:39:35,895
My arms were shaking, my legs
were still a little bit shaky,
376
00:39:35,896 --> 00:39:38,103
and I had these scrapes
on my legs.
377
00:39:46,482 --> 00:39:48,758
The base of your home
together is different bricks
378
00:39:48,931 --> 00:39:50,275
from each of you.
379
00:39:50,448 --> 00:39:55,793
And you think about losing
your life partner like that.
380
00:39:55,965 --> 00:39:58,034
How do you continue
to build a house with bricks
381
00:39:58,206 --> 00:39:59,482
from two people
if there's only one?
382
00:40:06,655 --> 00:40:09,000
I reflected back
on that moment, uh,
383
00:40:09,172 --> 00:40:10,862
just wishing I wouldn't
have done it.
384
00:40:12,758 --> 00:40:16,034
I'm definitely grateful
for the rescuers.
385
00:40:18,482 --> 00:40:21,344
You know, without them,
I may not be here today.
386
00:40:47,586 --> 00:40:49,793
This rescue
was-- was very challenging.
387
00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:54,000
Afterwards, when you
kind of ponder it, like,
388
00:40:54,172 --> 00:40:57,758
man, this, you know, this kid
was in a really bad situation
389
00:40:57,931 --> 00:41:00,792
and it very well could
have been life or death.
390
00:41:00,793 --> 00:41:03,758
That's when you start to kind
of feel a little proud, like,
391
00:41:03,931 --> 00:41:05,275
"We just accomplished this."
392
00:41:07,758 --> 00:41:11,585
I'm adamant that if Cody was
unable to hang on that night,
393
00:41:11,586 --> 00:41:13,517
he probably wouldn't
have survived.
394
00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:19,000
There's obvious risks on
in everything that we do.
395
00:41:19,137 --> 00:41:22,379
But at the end of the day,
when you do rescue somebody
396
00:41:22,551 --> 00:41:26,000
or save someone's life,
those risks are well worth it.
397
00:41:26,137 --> 00:41:29,379
And, um, you know, I would put
myself at risk every single day
398
00:41:29,551 --> 00:41:30,792
to continue doing that.