The police had to be there for a couple of reasons....traffic had to be altered and controlled. The bus in that area that runs off the cables had to be disconnected and towed. Crowds gathered. He damaged the tree....a crime. Seattle is bringing in an arborist to see the extent of the damage.
That all being said, after he snapped the first branch, instead of offering him a cigarette from an extended firetruck ladder....a bean bag shot to the head would have dropped this idiot faster than Bill Clinton's pants.