The incident that closed the Casco Bay Bridge between South Portland and Portland Monday morning was caused by a man threatening to jump off the bridge.

At 5:42 a.m. Monday, the South Portland Police Department received a call from a male who was threatening to kill himself at an unknown location.

Lt. Frank Clark said South Portland officers located the 41-year-old male, who lives in South Portland, on the railing on the South Portland side of the Casco Bay Bridge.

Officers began attempts to verbally de-escalate the situation when the man went outside of the bridge railing, saying and making indications that he intended to jump, Clark said.

With the assistance of Portland police, first one, and then both lanes, of the Casco Bay Bridge were temporarily shut down during the incident. Police negotiators responded and assisted in the patrol response, Clark said. Traffic was diverted to the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

The man agreed to cooperate with the officers and came back over the rail. He was transported to the Maine Medical Center for a psychiatric evaluation, Clark said.

Clark said all of South Portland’s officers remain trained in Crisis Intervention techniques. Anyone experiencing feelings of hopelessness or helplessness should be reminded that there are options and people are here to help. Contact the Crisis Team at 774-HELP.