Berkeley police intervene to stop suicide attempt downtown

Berkeley police officers were able to stop a man from hanging himself at a construction site downtown Monday night, authorities report.

Officers were called to the 1900 block of Shattuck Avenue, north of University Avenue, for a man who appeared to be playing with ropes just before 10 p.m.

Berkeley police officers arrived within minutes and saw the man on top of a fence holding a rope, according to radio traffic reviewed by The Berkeley Scanner.

An officer quickly called for emergency backup when she realized the man was about to hang himself, according to emergency dispatches.

BPD also called for the Berkeley Fire Department to stage nearby to provide medical support.

As more officers arrived, they were able to disconnect the rope and get the man out of danger.

He will now be taken for psychiatric evaluation, police said.