McDonald’s roof standoff ends after five hours

A five-hour standoff with a teenager who climbed the roof of McDonald’s in Western Road has finally ended this evening.

Western Road was been closed by police while police attempted to talk down the man who climbed on top of McDonald’s at about 3pm today.

Later in the day, he moved to rooftops in nearby Spring Street and at 7.30pm, police negotiators finally persuaded the man to come down from the rooftops.

He was helped down by a crew from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

Inspector Jason Cummings said: “I would like to thank the public for their patience while we dealt with the incident.

“We unfortunately had no choice but to close the road but we opened it as quickly as we could.”

Earlier this afternoon, a police spokeswoman said: “Police are talking to a man on the roof of a building between Spring Street and Dean Street in Brighton where he has seen since shortly after 3pm on Thursday (September 18).

“Officers are talking to him and trying to encourage him to come down. Western Road, Spring Street and Dean Street are currently closed while officers are on scene.

“The southern side of the pavement on Western Road is open for pedestrians and there is a contraflow for vehicles using the southern carriageway only. ”

She added that this man wasn’t wanted for an earlier incident in Moulsecoomb, for which the police helicopter was also scrambled.

Euphoria Mander told Brighton and Hove News: “He was on my bus and then clocked the police and ran. This was at about 2.35pm. He could run fast.

“It was the number 2, I joined it at Churchill Square and when the bus got to Clarence Square he saw the police go past, ducked down and ran down the stairs as we were on the top deck and then he legged it up one of the side streets, I think the one next to McDonald’s.

“A few police cars pulled up and officers and some members of the public ran after him and then a police van turned up too.”

Another witness said: “There’s probably five police cars abandoned by Bert’s Homestore and on the road leading upwards. It’s causing mayhem with buses getting through.”

The police helicopter was intially circling the city, and firefighters also assisted police.

A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is now in custody.

WESTERN ROAD is currently closed in both directions. Eastbound buses are currently operating via Montpelier Road, Seven Dials, Imperial

— B&H Buses (@BrightonHoveBus) September 18, 2014