Downtown traffic was shut down Tuesday afternoon after a man climbed to the roof of the Hampton Inn in Carrboro and threatened to jump.

Carrboro police arrived on scene around 3:00 p.m., initially in response to a report of a “suspicious person” – only to find the man on the roof. Police closed East Main, West Franklin, and West Rosemary Streets between Roberson and Merritt Mill in order to address the situation; as of 7:25 p.m., the situation was still ongoing. Chapel Hill police officers were on the scene as well, along with the Carrboro Fire Department and Orange County EMS officials.

Carrboro Police Captain Chris Atack says there’s no danger to the public, but they’re still concerned the man could be a danger to himself.

“We do actually have trained negotiators involved – at least three negotiators involved from the Carrboro and the Chapel Hill negotiations unit,” says Atack. “We’re committed to bringing this to the best resolution we can think of.”

Negotiators were on the scene by 3:30. By 5:00, WCHL’s Matt Oakes reported the man had stepped away from the ledge. The situation calmed somewhat afterward, but as of 7:30 there are still officers on the roof along with the individual, and the roads are still closed.

 

Listen to the full comments from Carrboro Police Captain Chris Atack.

 

WCHL’s Matt Oakes was on the scene between 3:30 and 5:00.

 

WCHL’s Art Chansky was on the scene between 5:30 and 7:00.