Update: A person who climbed onto an out-of-bounds area of the Johnson Street Bridge has come down and is in custody, Victoria police said Saturday night. There were no injuries. Access to the bridge in both directions for vehicles and pedestrians was shut down during the incident.
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Earlier story:
The public has been asked to avoid the Johnson Street Bridge while police respond to a person in crisis.
VicPD tweeted around 5:30 p.m. that pedestrian and vehicle traffic on the bridge would be disrupted while they respond. The public is asked to use the Bay Street bridge.
A person is on an out-of-bounds section of the bridge speaking into a megaphone. What he is saying is unclear.
Police said they are working with paramedics, the Victoria Fire Department and the Canadian Coast Guard to try to keep everyone involved safe. Crisis negotiatiors and the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team have responded as well.
In another message on Twitter, police reminded people to keep their distance and said that crossing the police tape, paddle boarding or boating under the bridge puts yourself, the individual and first responders at risk.
Police asked the public to avoid sharing photos or videos of the person in crisis.
