Man arrested for climbing communications tower in Winter Park, police say

ORLANDO, Fla. - A man was arrested early Friday morning, about 12 hours after he climbed to the top of a communications tower in Winter Park, Florida, police said.

FOX 35 crews recorded a video on Thursday afternoon of what appeared to be someone at the top of a red communications tower near Palm Avenue.

In a news release, Winter Park Police Department said its crisis negotiations team responded to the incident in the 1900 block of Palm Avenue at 3 p.m. Thursday and located a man, later identified as 38-year-old Richard Smith, atop the tower.

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For several hours, negotiators peacefully worked to get Smith to come down. Shortly before 3:30 a.m, Friday, Smith climbed down the tower, police said.

He was arrested on burglary charges to an unoccupied structure, criminal mischief over $1,000, and trespassing.

Police said this was an isolated incident without immediate threats to the community.