MMA superhero not allowed to help rescue Seattle's 'Man in Tree'
A man who climbed an 80-foot sequoia tree in downtown Seattle on Tuesday remains perched at the top nearly 24 hours after the unusual episode began.
Seattle police first began working to talk the man down safely at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time, announcing that the "issue appears to be between the man and the tree."
Some streets closed around 4th Ave/Stewart as police and @SeattleFire work to get a man out of a tall tree.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) March 22, 2016
.@heyjessibrown There will likely be traffic impacts in the area, but issue appears to be between the man and the tree.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) March 22, 2016
.@mirahwood Still under investigation. We've got negotiators en root.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) March 22, 2016
Traffic impacts continue arnd 4/Stewart as negotiators work to talk man down from tree w/assistance of @SeattleFire pic.twitter.com/jaduW6Akfi
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) March 22, 2016
The man has tossed "small branches, orange peels, pine cones and other materials at rescuers and claimed to be armed with a knife," according to Gawker. And he also requested cigarettes, which is precisely what MMA costumed vigilante Phoenix Jones believed would entice the Man In Tree down and end the spectacle/public safety threat:
#ManInTree if this is not solved by 8 o'clock I will come up with a strategy and attempt to help. Sometimes only crazy can help crazy.
— Phoenix Jones (@ThePhoenixJones) March 23, 2016
In route to help could not reach @SeattlePD 2 inform them that I've met this man before and believe he will come down for a beer & cigaret
— Phoenix Jones (@ThePhoenixJones) March 23, 2016
So we are here but Spd says it's under control and they don't want our help. Nine hours still stuck #letphoenixhelp pic.twitter.com/8O5TcTd0FV
— Phoenix Jones (@ThePhoenixJones) March 23, 2016
"It is quite a spectacle, honestly," police spokesman Patrick Michaud told The Seattle Times.
Reality remains stranger than fiction.
Update: The man has come down and is receiving treatment, according to Mashable.
DEVELOPING: Seattle's #ManInTree comes down from tree to cheers from onlookers pic.twitter.com/cR2XnaGdOa
— Mashable News (@MashableNews) March 23, 2016
