Suicidal man pulled to safety on top of Space Needle

SEATTLE — After three hours of negotiations, a 30-year-old man threatening to jump off the Space Needle's observation deck was brought down safely today by police negotiators and fire crews.

The incident began at 1:34 p.m. when fire crews were called to Seattle Center for a problem on the Needle's observation deck. When they realized what was was going on, police and a hostage negotiation team were called in. After speaking with negotiators, the suicidal man agreed to put on a safety harness at 4:44 p.m. and was pulled to safety. He was taken to Harborview Medical Center for evaluation.

Investigators said the man gained access to the outer lip of the deck by crawling through a 5 ½-inch gap in the wire fencing that separates the deck from the outer area.

The last time someone threatened to jump from the Needle's observation deck was in August 1992. Three people have jumped to their death from the Space Needle.

Seattle Times staff reporter Nguyen Huy Vu contributed to this story.