Man scales construction crane in Anaheim, climbs down and, authorities say, throws glue at police

ANAHEIM – A man scaled a crane about 300 feet above a construction site Sunday night, Sept. 9, and rappelled down before being taken into custody.

“He had climbed up above the crane and then was in the crane operating car,” said Battalion Chief Bob McClellan of Anaheim Fire & Rescue.

The man was seen inside the cockpit of the crane shortly after 11:30 p.m., adjusting lights and fidgeting with other controls.

Firefighters and police tried to persuade the man to come down while watching from below at Clementine Street and Katella Avenue.

After about an hour and a half, he made his way down.

“He exited that car and then swung a rope or cable down the outside of the crane and then (police) were able to apprehend him at the base of the crane,” McClellan said.

When Anaheim police officers confronted him, authorities said, he threw PVC glue at them.

Two officers had to be treated on scene to get the blue adhesive off.

The shoe-less suspect, wearing only underwear and a long-sleeved shirt, was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

McClellan said had the man not made his way down, the rescue would have been difficult. Firefighters saw no place they could set up a rescue air cushion to catch him if he had jumped, he said, and the apparatus would probably not be effective anyway because the man was so high up.