Flag-Draped Man Climbs Construction Crane In Hollywood Standoff

HOLLYWOOD, CA — An hours-long standoff Sunday evening involving a man wrapped in an American flag who climbed a crane at a Hollywood construction site ended safely with the man being taken into custody, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Los Angeles police and firefighters, including an urban search and rescue team, responded to the drama at 6140 Hollywood Blvd., near the intersection of Hollywood and El Centro Avenue, about 5:15 p.m., fire department spokeswoman Amy Bastman said.

It was unclear why the man climbed the crane, which rises some 200 feet off the ground, according to Bastman. Police cut power to the crane to lock it down.

Throughout the ordeal, the unidentified man climbed partway down the crane, Bastman continued.

He then leaped to the roof of the building under construction and then climbed onto nearby scaffolding. At that point, LAPD officers took him safely into custody.

Bastman said the LAFD had planned to dispatch aerial drones to the site to get a better look at the situation, but before they could, the man surrendered to police.

The man finally gave up to authorities about 8:15 p.m., Bastman added.

The man was being assessed by LAFD paramedics and was being taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation, Bastman said.

The man was very apologetic and very humbled when he came down, Sgt. Juan Torres told KCAL9.

A man with an American flag is climbing up and down a crane on Hollywood Blvd. LAPD and LAFD are on scene, streets between Vine and Gower are closed. It’s unknown why he’s on the crane. pic.twitter.com/wfcvhLucmd

— Melissa MacBride (@abc7melissa) April" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/abc7meliss... 9, 2018

City News Service