LEWISTON – A man who threatened to hurl himself off the Longley Bridge was taken into custody Thursday night after police convinced him not to jump.

Fire crews had floodlights trained on the river and a rescue boat was launched before the unidentified man agreed to leave the bridge with police.

He was taken to Central Maine Medical Center.

Police were first sent to the bridge shortly after 10:30 p.m. when it was reported that the man appeared to be preparing to jump after climbing over a railing on the north side of the bridge.

As police attempted to talk to the man, he inched his way closer to the center of the bridge until he was on the Lewiston side, facing Veterans Memorial Park.

With open water on the Androscoggin River, police called for a rescue boat, which was launched in Auburn at about 11 p.m.

Several times during the ordeal, police reported that the man, in short sleeves, appeared ready to jump. Each time, the officers were able to convince him to keep talking to them instead.

Police blocked off both ends of the Longley Bridge while they spoke to the man. At about 11:15 p.m., he climbed back over the railing and onto the bridge sidewalk. Emergency crews placed a coat around him before taking him to CMMC to be examined.

It was not immediately clear why he had intended to jump. Police notified the man’s family members during the ordeal.