Dangling man

azfamily.com

RAW: Aerials of rescue
PHOTOS: Man climbs into rescue bucket

MESA -- Mesa Fire with the help of Salt River Project worked a tower rescue near Gilbert Road and University Drive Monday night.

Mesa Fire Department spokesman Mike Dunn said an individual was perched up a 500-kilovolt high-tension power pole. It is unknown why or how the person got up the tower.

Neighbors called emergency crews shortly before 7 p.m. When fire and police units arrived, they saw a man was perched up on the tower.

As rescuers began scaling the tower, the man started climbing higher eventually reaching more than 100 feet up.

A police negotiator was called in and shortly before 8 p.m. the man surrendered and began climbing down the tower.

Firefighters then used a ladder to bring him safely to the ground.

The man has been identified as Shannon L. Palmer, 38.

Police say they believe he was intoxicated.

Palmer was booked for trespassing, tampering with a public utility and disorderly conduct.

This is in the same area where in 1997 a mentally challenged teen cilmbed atop a KV-tower and was stranded several hours before he was brought down to safety. That story captured national attention.