Key Columbia bridge reopens after police peacefully negotiate with man in ‘mental crisis’
The Gervais Street Bridge in Columbia was set to be reopened to traffic on Friday afternoon after being closed for about 45 minutes as authorities negotiated with a man who was having a “mental crisis.”
Columbia police and fire officials, as well as West Columbia Fire Department personnel had arrived at the bridge shortly before noon Friday. Police Deputy Chief Melron Kelly told The State a man was threatening to jump from the bridge.
“Both sides of the Gervais Street bridge are temporarily closed,” the police department tweeted at 12:19 p.m. “A #ColumbiaPDSC officer with the Pathways Unit is talking to a male who is mental crisis.”
The department later tweeted that a mental health and crisis negotiator was able to “peacefully resolve” the situation. The man was taken to a local hospital for assistance.
The police department added that its Pathways Unit “includes a certified crisis intervention team member/officer/negotiator & a SC Dept. of Mental Health (DMH) counselor. The unit is deployed to calls for service if a citizen requires mental health support.”
The Columbia Richland Fire Department deployed personnel into the water and around the bridge, in case they were needed for a rescue in the water, spokesman Mike DeSumma said.
This story was originally published December 16, 2022 at 12:11 PM.
