Omaha police arrest man who climbed on top of bridge barrier near Interstate 480

WITH BREAKING NEWS. LAW ENFORCEMENT THEN JUST TOOK A MAN INTO CUSTODY AFTER EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. I’M QUANECIA FRASER AND I’M BILL SHERMAN. IT STARTED AFTER THE MAN CLIMBED ON TOP OF THE FARNAM BRIDGE OVER I-40 THIS MORNING THAT FORCED LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SHUT DOWN NORTH BEND LANES FOR HOURS TODAY. YOU CAN SEE AN EMPTY INTERSTATE HERE RIGHT AROUND THE LUNCH HOUR KETV NEWSWATCH 7 THERE A FEELING IT’S NOT THE BREAKING DETAILS? SARA, WHEN YOU SEE A THIS JUST ENDED MOMENTS AGO. WITHIN THE LAST 15 MINUTES, OFFICERS WHO HAD BEEN WAITING HERE FOR THE ENTIRE DAY TACKLED THAT MAN AS HE STEPPED DOWN OFF OF THE LADDER AND INTO THE STREET. NOW, HERE IS VIDEO OF THAT INCIDENT AS IT HAPPENED AGAIN JUST 15 MINUTES AGO. NOW, THAT CONCLUDES AN ALMOST EIGHT HOUR DAY OF THIS MAN SITTING, STANDING AND CRAWLING AROUND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FENCE ON THE FARNAM STREET BRIDGE OVER I-40. NOW, OFFICERS DESPERATELY WORK TO GET THIS MAN TO COME DOWN AS HE WAS YELLING BACK AT THEM. YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW HARD MY LIFE IS. BUT THESE NEGOTIATORS SAY THEY DO KNOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS MAN BEFORE IN THIS EXACT SITUATION. THEY SHUT TRAFFIC DOWN FOR HOURS, FORCING DRIVERS AROUND THE SITUATION. NOW, WHILST SOME STOPPED AND HELD UP TRAFFIC FOR A LOOK. OTHERS DECIDED TO HELP PICKING UP CARDBOARD FROM BUSINESSES NEARBY AND WRITING MESSAGES OF HOPE, ENCOURAGING THE MAN TO GET DOWN. ONE MAN SAYING HE UNDERSTANDS HOW IT FEELS AND THERE ARE BETTER DAYS AHEAD FROM BACK IN 2016. I’VE BEEN IN A POSITION SIMILAR TO THIS WHERE YOU’RE CONTEMPLATING IS LIFE WORTH IT. AND WHAT OPTIONS DO YOU HAVE? LIFE IS SO MUCH MORE WORTH IT. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU’LL FORFEIT IF YOU DO JUMP. OFFICERS HAVE JUST FINISHED UP A DEBRIEFING MEETING. THEY’RE WALKING AWAY JUST BEHIND US. WE HOPE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS SITUATION. BUT AGAIN, THAT GENTLEMAN HAS COME DOWN OFF THE LADDER. HE IS IN POLICE CUSTODY EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. IF YOU’RE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CALLED NINE, EIGHT, EIGHT, THAT IS A CRISIS HOTLINE. BACK TO YOU. SARA, THANK YOU. WE WANT TO REITERATE THAT IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL HELP, HEALTH HELP IS JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY. DIAL NINE, EIGHT, EIGHT. AS SAR

Omaha police have arrested a man who climbed onto the fence of the Farnam Bridge over Interstate 480 while experiencing a mental health crisis Friday.Northbound Interstate 480 was shut down for nearly nine hours while officers assisted the man, identified as 46-year-old Frederick Patterson. Patterson was taken into custody for obstructing a peace officer, obstructing a public passageway and resisting arrest.He climbed onto the fence of the Farnam Bridge over I-480 around 8 a.m. Friday morning and police worked to get him down throughout the day.Officers said they have experience with Patterson as they have had previous encounters with him. They said the man has climbed onto bridges before in the metro area. He's also previously been convicted of robbery and escape, according to police.Negotiators sat on top of the bridge with Patterson for hours and the fire department launched its new truck with a bucket to help get him down. All this resulted in massive traffic detours: all interstate traffic on northbound I-480 was diverted onto Leavenworth Street since around 8 a.m. A reminder for anyone who needs help or sees someone experiencing a crisis, 988 is the number to call. The new hotline works like 911 but will provide mental health help based on the area code of the person who calls. Stay with KETV.com for more on this developing storyGet the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7

OMAHA, Neb. —

Omaha police have arrested a man who climbed onto the fence of the Farnam Bridge over Interstate 480 while experiencing a mental health crisis Friday.

Northbound Interstate 480 was shut down for nearly nine hours while officers assisted the man, identified as 46-year-old Frederick Patterson.

Patterson was taken into custody for obstructing a peace officer, obstructing a public passageway and resisting arrest.

He climbed onto the fence of the Farnam Bridge over I-480 around 8 a.m. Friday morning and police worked to get him down throughout the day.

Officers said they have experience with Patterson as they have had previous encounters with him. They said the man has climbed onto bridges before in the metro area. He's also previously been convicted of robbery and escape, according to police.

Negotiators sat on top of the bridge with Patterson for hours and the fire department launched its new truck with a bucket to help get him down.

All this resulted in massive traffic detours: all interstate traffic on northbound I-480 was diverted onto Leavenworth Street since around 8 a.m.

A reminder for anyone who needs help or sees someone experiencing a crisis, 988 is the number to call. The new hotline works like 911 but will provide mental health help based on the area code of the person who calls.

Stay with KETV.com for more on this developing story

Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7

Omaha police arrest man who climbed on top of bridge barrier near Interstate 480

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