Man threatens to jump off bridge, police talk him down

Saturday, a man is under evaluation after threatening to jump off an overpass bridge in Columbia.

Columbia police on scene said they responded to the I-70 and Providence Road overpass bridge near Exit 126 around 10:20 p.m. for a person who was possibly trying to harm his or her self. Police found a man standing outside of the fence on the bridge.

Police shut down east and west-bound lanes of the interstate at the exit for more than an hour.

Lt. Geoff Jones with the Columbia Police Department said the CPD Crisis Negotiations team responded to the scene to talk to the man.

“That gentleman came down off of the bridge on his own after speaking with officers and we’re going to have him evaluated by medics, and we’ll follow up with other professionals for him,”Lt. Jones said.