Suicidal man gives up, I-805 reopens

Lanes of Interstate 805 were closed for two hours Wednesday morning until San Diego police got into into custody a man who threatened to jump from the Adams Avenue overpass in Kensington.

Passers-by reported about 8:50 a.m. that a man in his 30s was scaling the bridge and hanging onto a fence over the freeway, police Officer Humberto Hernandez said.

Police negotiators contacted the man, trying to talk him into surrendering, Hernandez said.

The man, in a white tank top, shorts and white socks, stood on a narrow ledge along the north side of Adams Avenue, clinging to a barrier fence as he talked to the negotiators.

The California Highway Patrol closed all lanes of freeway traffic in both directions between Interstate 8 and state Route 94, causing miles of backup. By about 9:40 a.m. officers opened one northbound lane so the stalled traffic could move.

Adams Avenue was blocked between West Mountain View Drive and Ohio Street.

Shortly before 11 a.m., the man made his way along the ledge toward Boundary Street and surrendered. Police handcuffed him, then let him sit on the curb and smoke a cigarette. He was taken to a county mental hospital for evaluation and does not face criminal charges, police said.