South Portland police say the Casco Bay Bridge was closed for more than an hour Monday morning because a man was threatening suicide on the bridge.
Police received a call around 5:42 a.m. Monday from a man who was threatening to kill himself at an undisclosed location. Officers found the man, identified as a 41-year-old from South Portland, on a railing on the side of the Casco Bay Bridge, according to police.
As officers began to try to verbally de-escalate the situation, the man went outside the bridge railing, saying and making indications he would jump, according to police. Police shut down the bridge as negotiators responded to talk to the man.
The man ultimately agreed to cooperate with the officers and came back over the rail. He was taken to Maine Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation.
South Portland police encourage anyone experiencing helplessness or who feels suicide to call the crisis team at 774-HELP.
The man, who was not identified by police, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The bridge re-opened to traffic by 7:40 a.m.
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