Attempted Suicide at Echo Park's Citibank Tower

Firefighters subdued a despondent 61-year-old man Wednesday morning as he threatened to leap off the office tower in downtown Echo Park.

Lt. Wes Buhrmester of the LAPD's Rampart Division told Echo Park Patch that the man was from Boston and was here without any family or acquaintances. 

He was on the second floor of the building threatening to jump.  Sunset Boulevard and other surrounding streets were cordoned off for a time during the rescue.

Here is Buhrmester's summary of the incicent that was first reported on The EastsiderLA's website:

"A sad incident, the subject, a 61-year-old male from the East Coast, was despondent because he was in California with no family or acquaintances. He slashed one wrist rather severely, and was threatening to jump from the second floor of the Citibank Building, which was a height of about 40 feet. The area was cordoned off because he made statements alluding to jumping if he saw a crowd forming, or if he saw police or firefighters. An air bag was deployed below him by firefighters, as he sat on the railing with one leg over the side.

"A firefighter approached from inside, and struck up a dialog with him. Shortly afterward, he was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to an area hospital by ambulance for treatment of the incision to his wrist, and psychiatric evaluation. The cut was not life-threatening. As of this writing, he would not say how he ended up at that particular building, or if he had business there prior to inflicting his injury and threatening suicide."