Seattle's 'Man in tree' siege ends after more than 24 hours

After more than 24 hours, a man who had taken up a perch in a downtown Seattle tree has come down and is receiving treatment.

The drama began around 11 a.m. local time on Tuesday when the man scaled the 80-foot tall tree outside a Macy's department store in downtown Seattle. 

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Police tried to negotiate with the man, but he was combative, occasionally yelling at first responders and even throwing apples and branches at them, as well.

Seattle Police spokesman Patrick Michaud told Mashable on Wednesday morning that officials know who the man is, though he has not been publicly named. Michaud said police didn't know why the man had climbed the tree, adding, "that's a question better left for him." 

As for the police approach, Michaud stressed authorities were concerned, first and foremost, with the man's safety: "Up to this point, it's been a wait and see thing. We've had people talking with him since yesterday. Now we're making sure he comes down safely."

In the end, that's just what happened as the man, after speaking again with authorities, climbed down from the tree just before noon on Wednesday, and safely landed on solid ground as onlookers cheered. 

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Witnesses told The Seattle Times on Tuesday that he may be a homeless man who frequents the area. Those who gathered to watch were more bemused than anything, despite the traffic tie-up that's resulted from the ordeal. One man told the Times, “He’s just been up in the tree for a few hours now, cussing at people and throwing pine cones." 

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Despite the efforts of the police, the man remained in the tree overnight and into Wednesday morning. Seattle police Lt. David Drain told the Times, “We’re in a holding pattern. We want to maintain his safety."

Michaud added that there are no plans to file any charges against the man for now, though if that decision is made, police would work with the prosecutor's office.

Social media users have been sharing updates and thoughts about the ordeal with the "#ManInTree" hashtag, and local media outlet KOMO has a live stream of the tree. 

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The streets around the tree remained closed as a precautionary measure while authorities waited for the man to descend. 

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