City police report that a man climbed high onto the former Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces at ArtsQuest SteelStacks Friday evening, causing concern and forcing the cancellation of events held on the grounds.

Police Chief Mark DiLuzio said in a public statement the man continued to climb to the very top of a structure and took up a position on a single steel beam approximately 300 feet above the ground.

Bethlehem Officers started to climb the structure in an attempt to speak with the male. Bethlehem Crisis Negotiation Team Officers reached a metal platform 25 feet below the him and started a conversation while Bethlehem Fire Technical Rescue along with EMS took positions.

?Crisis Negotiation Officers spoke with the male for approximately 20 hours. Meanwhile, he was identified by posting his photo on Facebook and to local media outlets, and his family was located. At approximately 4 p.m. on Saturday, the male climbed down and peacefully surrendered to ERT Officers and Crisis Officers on the metal platform.

DiLuzio said due to the ongoing length of this incident, the location, constructional dangers, difficulties in communications and dangers of a potential rescue operation, mutual aid for technical assistance was requested, and multiple public safety agencies from around the Lehigh Valley responded.

The man in this incident was taken to St. Lukes Hospital for a mental health evaluation. The male’s identity will not be released at this time.