Police rescue man who climbed Brooklyn Bridge cables
NEW YORK -- Police rescued a man who climbed up the Brooklyn Bridge, temporarily shutting down two lanes of traffic during the morning commute.
Officers responded around 7:15 a.m. Thursday and found the man holding onto the cables.
Several first responders climbed after him and brought him to safety.
#BrooklynBridge@ABC7NY pic.twitter.com/g33Z3KzgsA
— 🟣Timothy David🎭🎞️ (@TimothyDavidNYC) April 7, 2022
Police said the man in his 20s was taken to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
"Early this morning, personnel from #NYPD ESU saved the life of an individual experiencing a mental crisis," NYPD Special Ops later tweeted. "The individual sat dangerously on the cables of the Brooklyn Bridge, high above the East River. ESU successfully established a dialogue and safely talked the person down."
Two Brooklyn-bound lanes were closed for about an hour, backing up traffic during the commute.
Early this morning, personnel from #NYPD ESU saved the life of an individual experiencing a mental crisis. The individual sat dangerously on the cables of the Brooklyn Bridge, high above the East River. ESU successfully established a dialogue and safely talked the person down. pic.twitter.com/uLayfm87bp
— NYPD Special Ops (@NYPDSpecialops) April 7, 2022
CBS2's Jenna DeAngelis spoke with a witness who was on the ferry below and captured video as the situation unfolded.
"Saw some flashing lights. I decide to open my phone and start recording. As I zoomed in, I saw the NYPD, along with several EMT ambulances, crossing over from the Brooklyn side," Timothy David said. "Then when I panned all the way up, then I saw an individual in a red jacket, I believe."
Two Brooklyn-bound lanes were closed for about an hour, backing up traffic during the commute. All lanes of the bridge have since reopened.