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.
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.
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.
