Why climbed up a Hollywood high-rise construction crane around 3 a.m. Sunday isn’t known. Nor is it known why Bernard later tossed objects from flyweight (paper clips) to heavyweight (100-pound weights) down 300 feet.
What’s known is Bernard’s bizarre climb-and-throw definitely shut down part of Hollywood’s Young Circle for more than 10 hours Sunday before Bernard descended. The 27-year-old’s episode ended around 1:40 p.m. with no injuries.
Bernard was charged with criminal mischief and trespassing and was retained for psychological examination on a Baker Act hold. He has no previous criminal record.
The drama began around 3 a.m. Sunday when a resident called Hollywood police with a report of noises coming from the construction site at 1776 Polk St. Hollywood police arrived to find an ascending Bernard on the crane.
For a while, police efforts at coaxing Bernard down resulted only in him climbing higher while throwing things down.
“Screws, paper clips, buckets, 100-pound weights,” Hollywood police Officer Christian Lata said in describing what the crane invader tossed from the 30-floor building.
Family members tried to talk Bernard down. At one point, police raised food, water and clothing to Bernard.
Meawhile, U.S. 1 traffic in and out of Young Circle on the north side was shut off as was southbound traffic around Young Circle. Hollywood Boulevard traffic toward the circle was still allowed to pass.
Eventually, police talked Bernard into coming down.
David J. Neal: 305-376-3559, @DavidJNeal
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