Video: Pasco Detective Talks Man Off Top Of 300-Foot Cell Tower

PORT RICHEY, FL — The Pasco County Sheriff's Office's recently formed Behavioral Health Intervention Team was called in after a man climbed to the top of a 300-foot-tall cell tower in Port Richey Sunday.

A behavioral health detective spoke with the man for about 3 1/2 hours and ultimately convinced him to come climb down into a Pasco Fire Rescue ladder truck.

The man, later identified as Casey Strenger, 48, of Port Richey was not expressing any intent to kill himself and didn't threaten anyone during the incident.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco released a video of the incident from the detective's body-worn camera.

"This video shows not only the breadth of work the Pasco Sheriff’s Office does, but the strong partnerships we have with Pasco Fire Rescue, who assisted in talking the subject off the tower," Nocco said. "Additionally, this call shows the integral role that BHIT plays in our community.

Strenger was charged with burglary of a business and resisting arrest without violence.

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