Man On Pole In Standoff With Cops 2 Days After Release From Psych Ward

Via KTLA

SANTA ANA-- A man climbed to the top of a traffic signal pole and stood off with police for hours after he was released from a psychiatric facility and reportedly went on a narcotics binge, police said.

At around 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Santa Ana Police Department officials say they received a report of a man climbing a pole and "acting crazy" at the intersection of Bristol Street and Segerstrom Avenue.

When they arrived at the intersection, officers found that the 22 year old man on had drawn a crowd of 500, and was yelling and conversing with them. He was oftentimes spotted acting erratically and swinging what appeared to be a belt around.

He refused to come down, said Corporal Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police

The man's family members were called to the scene, and told officers that the man was released only 48 hours ago from a psychiatric facility, and was not taking his prescribed medication.

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