Read the following incident report excerpt and answer the question below.
**Report Excerpt:** "At 22:30 hours on 15 July, attended a reported disturbance at 14 Archer Street, West End. Upon arrival, I observed a group of approximately five individuals in a heated verbal altercation on the footpath. I engaged the primary aggressor, a male in a red shirt, using verbal de-escalation techniques. The group dispersed shortly after my intervention without further incident. No offences were detected, and no property was damaged. I cleared the scene at 22:45 hours."
What was the officer's primary action to resolve the situation?
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A
Arresting the primary aggressor.
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B
Issuing infringement notices to the group.
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C
Using verbal communication to calm the situation.
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D
Waiting for backup before intervening.