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Video: Watch Police Save Shirtless Man Who Climbed GWB Tower

FORT LEE, N.J. --- A video shows police taking a shirtless, emotionally troubled man into custody after he climbed to the top of the George Washington Bridge tower on the New Jersey side -- apparently intent on committing suicide -- during Friday's morning rush.

Officers convince would-be jumper to surrender.

Photo Credit: Gothamist
NBC 4 New York took this photo.

NBC 4 New York took this photo.

Photo Credit: NBC 4 New York

Identified as 54-year-old Alberto Hernandez of East Stroudsburg, PA, he was later taken by ambulance to Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus, the Port Authority's Joseph Pentangelo told Daily Voice.

Hernandez was charged with interference with transportation, defiant trespass and disorderly conduct.

The commotion 800 feet above the span closed the upper level in both directions around 8:30 a.m., as Port Authority and NYPD Emergency Services officers took an elevator to the top of the tower.

Two westbound lanes were immediately reopened, as was one eastbound lane, once they got him down, Pentangelo said. All lanes were eventually reopened by 9 am..

It's the second time this week that the upper level was closed during the morning rush. Ten members of a homeless support group were arrested after chaining themselves across the upper level of the NYC-bound lanes, closing the span for about 15 minutes during Wednesday morning's rush.

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