The man pulled his hood over his face and swung a belt around while atop a traffic signal pole. Family members say he was released from psychiatric hold, wasn't taking his medication, and had binged on narcotics. (KTLA-TV / July 22, 2010) |
SANTA ANA-- A man climbed to the top of a traffic signal pole and stood off with police for hours after he was released from a psychiatric facility and reportedly went on a narcotics binge, police said.
At around 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Santa Ana Police Department officials say they received a report of a man climbing a pole and "acting crazy" at the intersection of Bristol Street and Segerstrom Avenue.
When they arrived at the intersection, officers found that the 22 year old man on had drawn a crowd of 500, and was yelling and conversing with them. He was oftentimes spotted acting erratically and swinging what appeared to be a belt around.
He refused to come down, said Corporal Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police
The man's family members were called to the scene, and told officers that the man was released only 48 hours ago from a psychiatric facility, and was not taking his prescribed medication.
According to Bertagna, the man hadn't slept at all in the 48 hours since his release, and was binging on a variety of narcotics.
"At times he would say he wanted people in the to kill him, and that he wanted to die," Bertagna said.
However, Bertagna said officers do not believe the man was suicidal, and was merely "putting on a show" for the large crowd and media presence.
Three different police negotiators were called in to attempt to get the man to come down, but they were unsuccessful.
The man spotted a female officer who had arrested him before, who he was "infatuated with," Bertagna said, but she was not successful in coaxing him down either.
At 7:00 p.m. the man's grandfather was finally able to convince the 22 year old to climb down.
The man was apprehended by officers, and was loaded into an ambulance was taken to a hospital for examination. Officers say he will likely be put on a 72 hour psychiatric hold.
Santa Ana Police will likely file a criminal complaint with the District Attorney on the incident, Bertagna said.
The man's identity has not been released.
At around 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Santa Ana Police Department officials say they received a report of a man climbing a pole and "acting crazy" at the intersection of Bristol Street and Segerstrom Avenue.
When they arrived at the intersection, officers found that the 22 year old man on had drawn a crowd of 500, and was yelling and conversing with them. He was oftentimes spotted acting erratically and swinging what appeared to be a belt around.
He refused to come down, said Corporal Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police
The man's family members were called to the scene, and told officers that the man was released only 48 hours ago from a psychiatric facility, and was not taking his prescribed medication.
According to Bertagna, the man hadn't slept at all in the 48 hours since his release, and was binging on a variety of narcotics.
"At times he would say he wanted people in the to kill him, and that he wanted to die," Bertagna said.
However, Bertagna said officers do not believe the man was suicidal, and was merely "putting on a show" for the large crowd and media presence.
Three different police negotiators were called in to attempt to get the man to come down, but they were unsuccessful.
The man spotted a female officer who had arrested him before, who he was "infatuated with," Bertagna said, but she was not successful in coaxing him down either.
At 7:00 p.m. the man's grandfather was finally able to convince the 22 year old to climb down.
The man was apprehended by officers, and was loaded into an ambulance was taken to a hospital for examination. Officers say he will likely be put on a 72 hour psychiatric hold.
Santa Ana Police will likely file a criminal complaint with the District Attorney on the incident, Bertagna said.
The man's identity has not been released.
