A 10-hour incident involving a man in crisis on the Marquam Bridge led to significant traffic impact.
On Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 2:10p.m., Central Precinct officers responded to a report of a man seen walking up a vehicle ramp from southbound I-405 to northbound I-5. When officers arrived, the man had climbed over a chain-link fence onto the outside, and was in danger of jumping down onto Southwest Moody Avenue. Recognizing the man was in mental health crisis, numerous officers responded, including members of the Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team (ECIT). Portland Fire & Rescue and American Medical Response responded to assist.
The location was extraordinarily challenging, as it is at the confluence of a variety of interstate freeways, arterial roadways, and surface streets. In order to protect all roadway users, it was necessary to stop traffic at numerous locations on several levels. Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon Health and Science University Police Department assisted with traffic control.
The man was at times leaning out, suspended by his grip on the chain-link fencing. He was almost completely non-responsive for much of the negotiation, despite significant effort to build rapport.
The incident commanders determined that it was appropriate to bring in PPB’s top negotiators, so the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) was activated, along with the rope rescue cadre from the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT).
Numerous de-escalation techniques were used, including the use of time. The officers slowed down the situation, allowed him to work through his crisis. The restriction of the traffic allowed the officers to provide a quieter environment, a further effort to reduce the intensity of the situation. The officers meticulously tried to build trust with him in an effort to convince him to allow them to get him help. Due to the length of the negotiation, it took at least 3 separate CNT negotiators.
After about 8 hours, after numerous negotiation techniques, CNT determined the best course of action was to disengage and monitor him from a distance. He remained on the bridge for another 2 hours before walking himself off.
All traffic reopened on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 12:25a.m. The Portland Police Bureau is grateful for the patience of the community members who were inconvenienced by this incident.
Help is available for community members struggling from a mental health crisis and/or suicidal thoughts. Suicide is preventable.
988 is the new way to connect with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline where you will find confidential support for anyone who is in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress.
It is also a number to call if you are a friend or loved one of someone in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress.
1 in 5 US Adults experience mental illness each year and suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 34
The photo provided shades out the man to protect his identity.
