Man faces charges after climbing cellphone tower in Hialeah

Relatives say man suffers from mental health issues

HIALEAH, Fla. ā€“ A South Florida man is facing charges after heĀ climbed a cellphone tower Friday morning in Hialeah.

Hialeah police and Fire Rescue officials wereĀ calledĀ to the tower on West Palm Avenue and 45th Place.

Sky 10 was above the scene just after 10:30 a.m. as the man was stationed toward the middle of the structure.

He climbed a little bit higher a short time later.

At one point, the man appeared to be yelling something to authorities below, while also clapping his hands at them.Ā 

He eventually made his way to the top, where he remained for hours.

The man's aunt told Local 10 News that her nephew suffers from mental health issues and wantedĀ to jump from the tower.

Firefighters began climbing the tower in the afternoon to get to the man, but he began climbing down on his own shortly before 3 p.m. They eventually brought in a cherry picker to safely bring him down the rest of the way.Ā 

A Hialeah police spokesman said the man was taken to a hospital to be checked out. He facesĀ charges of burglary and trespassing.


About the Authors:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Janine Stanwood joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor. She is now a general assignment reporter. Before moving to South Florida from her Washington home, Janine was the senior legislative correspondent for a United States senator on Capitol Hill.