Police Talk Man Off Bridge, Arrest Him

Tue., Aug. 15, 2000

Spokane police negotiators spent nearly 7 1/2 hours talking a suicidal man off a bridge in Riverfront Park on Monday.

The 22-year-old man climbed over the handrail on a suspension bridge on the north side of Canada Island around 5:45 a.m, according to police spokesman Dick Cottam.

A passer-by notified police. Officers, hostage negotiators and a mental health professional responded to the bridge.

The man alternated between swearing at the officers and talking to himself. Police believed he was on drugs, possibly methamphetamine, according to Cottam. Police did not identify him.

Just after 1 p.m., the man climbed onto the bridge walkway and after several minutes of discussion, was taken from the bridge to the north shore. He was taken to jail and will be interviewed by mental health authorities, police said. The man had three warrants for his arrest at the time he was taken into custody.

The lengthy incident kept more than 20 officers from regular duty, according to Cottam.

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