LA GRANDE — An early morning crisis at the Grande Ronde Hospital construction site ended Wednesday, July 5, when a man attempted to die by suicide.

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Local law enforcement responded to the hospital shortly before 5:20 a.m. after receiving a report that a person had climbed to the top of the construction crane at the hospital, according to a La Grande Police Department press release. Once on site, officers determined the man was threatening to harm himself by jumping from the crane.

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Police said the man’s identity was known to law enforcement, but his identity will not be released to the public out of respect for the individual and his family. An investigator was in contact with a member of his family throughout the situation.

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However, law enforcement did confirm that he was not associated with Grande Ronde Hospital or Bouten Construction, the general contractor at the work site.

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Law enforcement established a command post on the 700 block of Sunset Drive. A crisis counselor and trained LGPD crisis negotiator communicated with the individual, according to the release. Several intersections in the area were closed in an effort to minimize both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

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Around 9:30 a.m. a crisis negotiator over a loudspeaker informed the man that a crane operator was coming up the tower ladder.

 

“We’re all here for you,” she said. “We just want to talk to you. It’ll be OK.”

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Read the full article on The Observer's website here.