A report of a pedestrian walking on the Blatnik Bridge late Saturday night prompted police to take a man into custody.
Superior police responded to the report shortly after 11 a.m.
When the first squads arrived, the man police did not identify was walking toward Duluth on the Superior-bound side of the bridge. When officers attempted to contact the man, he retreated to the outside guardrail and made comments that he did not want to jail and would jump if officers got closer, according to a news release issued by police.
The male subject said he would walk off the bridge, toward Hammond Avenue, if police left him alone and would not take him to jail. The male subject began to walk off the bridge toward Hammond Avenue after officers backed away from him.
Officers were in position, at the base of the bridge, to take the male subject in custody and did so following a brief foot chase at about a half hour later.
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Traffic on both sides of the bridge was blocked by law enforcement for the duration of this incident.
The pedestrian has been identified but his name was not released. He was lodged at the Douglas County Jail on a probation and parole warrant, and will be closely monitored for safety.
The male subject stated he only threatened to jump in an attempt to avoid arrest. The matter is being referred to the Douglas County Health and Human Services Department for follow-up.
