Woman threatened to jump from LDS office building, officials say


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SALT LAKE CITY — Firefighters and security personnel detained a woman as she threatened to jump from the observation deck at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' office building on Wednesday.

The woman managed to scale a high barricade on the 26th floor of the office building, 50 E. North Temple, just before 10 a.m. Wednesday, Salt Lake City Fire spokesman Jasen Asay said. Security personnel grabbed the woman and handcuffed her to a railing until police and firefighters arrived.

"It appears that the woman had climbed over the plexiglass wall and was at the railing where she had the ability to jump off," Asay said. "Church security acted quickly, they got up there, got handcuffs on her and the railing to keep her on the railing, keep her from jumping off, and then our crews were able to go up and free her from the handcuffs and make sure that nothing else happened."

Police were not sure whether the woman worked in the building or was a visitor. The 26th-floor observation deck, Asay noted, is open to the public.

Salt Lake City police shut down North Temple from State to Main Street as they responded to the woman, diverting traffic onto other streets.

The woman was in police custody by 10:15 a.m. A psychological evaluation was performed on scene before determining whether to transport the woman to a hospital.

No one else in the building was threatened during the incident.

Kristen Howey, an spokeswoman for the LDS church, said Wednesday, "A woman was rescued from the observation deck of the Church Office Building and is receiving care. We extend our deepest love and concern for her and her loved ones."

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