Man who climbed crane taken to hospital for mental evaluation

(FOX 11/CNS) - An hours-long standoff tonight 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.