SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- A San Diego Police Department K9 officer rappelled off a cliff using his 100-foot long dog leash to help rescue a father and his 2-year-old twin daughters after their car flew off Sunset Cliffs, officials said.
According to SDPD spokesman Shawn Takeuchi, the police department's communications center received information early Saturday morning from the Sheriff’s Department regarding a suicidal 47-year-old man.
Officials said the child’s mother reported the father had taken the two kids and threatened to drive off the Coronado Bridge.
An emergency cell phone location was requested through the cell phone provider, which led San Diego police officers to Sunset Cliffs, Takeuchi said.
At 5:09 a.m., a San Diego police lieutenant was in the Sunset Cliffs area and saw the Dodge truck.
As he waited for additional units before contacting the man, Takeuchi said the lieutenant witnessed the vehicle drive off the cliff.
Officials said SDPD K9 Ofc. Jonathan Wiese arrived and used his 100-foot long dog tether to rappel down the cliff to the truck, which was upside down in the water.
Wiese was able to get the man and the two girls from the car to the shore.
The children were taken to Rady Children’s Hospital. Their conditions are unknown at this time.
Police said the man was taken into custody for attempted murder. Their identities have not yet been released.
Wiese is the same officer who helped apprehend suspected Poway synagogue shooter Jonathan Earnest in April 2019. Wiese, a 20-year law enforcement veteran, was on his way to meet his family for lunch on Saturday, Apr. 27 when he heard a call of shots fired and immediately responded to the area.
"I tried not to think about the danger, just tried to figure out what I needed to do," said Wiese of the shooting.
10News is working to talk with Wiese about his heroic actions.
