Man arrested for climbing on top of light rail in downtown Phoenix
Apr 5, 2019, 7:11 AM | Updated: 5:52 pm
PHOENIX — A man was arrested for climbing on top of a Valley Metro light rail platform in downtown Phoenix early Friday, causing traffic to come to a halt during rush hour.
Michael Franco, 34, is facing charges of trespassing, criminal damage and disorderly conduct for the incident near Central Avenue and Roosevelt Street.
Sgt. Tommy Thompson said authorities were called to the area around 1:15 a.m. in response to someone yelling and found Franco on top of a metal structure, about 25 feet above the platform.
Officers attempted to talk him down, but he allegedly refused and instead climbed across the structure.
“As he moved about, he broke off several lightning rods from the structure, threatening to throw them at the officers,” Thompson said in an email.
Franco was eventually talked down from the platform around 7:15 a.m. and booked into the Maricopa County jail. He also had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest.
Central Avenue was closed from Garfield to Portland streets and Roosevelt Street was closed from First Street to First Avenue during the incident.
Service Alert: Roosevelt/Central Ave station is now open and service has been restored. Due to the earlier police activity, train service is delayed 45 minutes eastbound and 20 minutes westbound. #vmservice
— Valley Metro (@valleymetro) April 5, 2019