Man climbs atop construction crane in Atlanta, later surrenders

<p>A man climbed to the top of a construction crane and perched there for several hours before surrendering to authorities early Wednesday.</p><p>The crane, which police said was at least 200 feet high, was at the construction site of a condominium on Peachtree Road on the cusp of the city's midtown and Buckhead districts.</p><p>Christian Ivaniuc, 39, has been charged with criminal trespass and reckless conduct, said Atlanta Police Department spokesman Steve Coleman. Coleman did not know Ivaniuc's hometown.</p><p>A passer-by called authorities around 7:15 p.m. Tuesday to say it looked like someone was walking on a crane at the construction site, where a 20-story condominium is being built.</p><p>Police say officers arrived to find Ivaniuc standing at the tip of the crane.</p><p>While the man was on the crane, police closed off a section of Peachtree Road, a main artery in the city, as they tried to defuse the situation. Occasionally a police helicopter would circle by, shining a spotlight on the man.</p><p>Just before 1:20 a.m. Wednesday, the man surrendered to police negotiators and was lowered from the crane.</p><p>"It was an outstanding job by our negotiators," Atlanta police spokesman James Polite said.</p><p>Polite said he did not know why Ivaniuc climbed the crane.</p><p>Ivaniu was brought to Grady Memorial Hospital for a mental and physical evaluation. He was still being held there Wednesday afternoon, Coleman said.</p><p>In the past few years, the booming Buckhead and Midtown area has seen several similar crane-climbing events.</p><p>Last month, four men told police they scaled an 18-story Midtown construction crane, "for giggles."</p><p>In May 2005, Florida murder suspect Carl Edward Roland sat atop a 25-story crane for most of two days before an officer shocked him with a stun gun as he was approaching to get a cup of water.</p><p>Later that month, another man climbed halfway up another crane elsewhere on Peachtree Street and stayed there for two hours and, in June 2001, a 23-year-old man spent at least 21 hours on top of a 200-foot construction crane before he hanged himself.</p>