Police Help Man On Bluffs In Santa Monica, PCH Lanes Reopen

SANTA MONICA, CA — A man experiencing mental health challenges at the top of the bluffs in Santa Monica Tuesday agreed to go with authorities to be evaluated at a medical facility, according to police.

Officers headed to the 1400 block of Palisades Park at around 10:30 a.m., where the man was on the ocean side of the fence, according to Santa Monica Police Department Lt. Joseph Cortez.

Malibu officials issued an alert at 11:07 a.m. noting that the California Incline and northbound lanes of Pacific Coast Highway had been closed in Santa Monica due to the police activity, although southbound lanes of the highway remained open. Traffic was backed up to the Santa Monica 10 Freeway.

Crisis negotiators spoke with the man for a couple of hours before he agreed to undergo a mental health evaluation at around 12:30 p.m, Cortez said.

Traffic lanes were reopened shortly after that.

Traffic Advisory Update: Incident on PCH impacting the I-10 and the California Incline is clearing. We anticipate normal traffic shortly. Thank you for your patience.
— Santa Monica Police (@SantaMonicaPD) October 27, 2020

- City News Service and Patch Editor Nicole Charky contributed to this report.

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