FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A man was setting items on fire at an apartment building for hours and throwing them out the balcony on Thursday night in Fort Lauderdale, authorities said.
Officers surrounded the building at 619 N. Andrews Ave., as the man was throwing things from the balcony of a fifth-floor apartment.
Firefighters and the SWAT Team responded and evacuated the fifth floor of the building. Negotiators were unable to calm the man down.
Fire Rescue personnel took the man out of the building in a stretcher around 9:25 p.m. They strapped him down and put him in an Emergency Medical Services vehicle.
Fort Lauderdale police spokeswoman Casey Liening confirmed Friday that the man was taken to Broward Health Medical Center under Florida’s Baker Act.
Charges are pending.
Police said the suspect’s identity would not be released at this time.
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editor Emily Hales contributed to this report.