Suicidal man with knife shuts down 60 Freeway in Ontario, taken into custody

ONTARIO, Calif. (KABC) -- A man threatening to commit suicide on the 60 Freeway in Ontario was taken safely into custody Tuesday night after shutting down lanes in both directions for several hours.

Reports of a suicidal man armed with an 8-inch knife began around 7 p.m. on the 60 Freeway at Euclid Avenue. Caltrans officials said the man had been walking in and out of traffic, then laid down on the lanes of the freeway. He then climbed down from the freeway onto the underpass of Euclid Ave and laid down.

At 7:45 p.m. the man was seen straddling a concrete barrier at the edge of the freeway above Euclid Avenue. A negotiator was sent to the scene.

Authorities twice tried to use a ladder to bring the man off the concrete barrier, but each time the man scrambled right back on to the ledge. Shortly before 10:20 p.m., officers used a Taser to take him down. They quickly swarmed him and took him into custody.

All lanes were reopened by 11:20 p.m.