A crazed man waved a sword on the observation deck of the Empire State Building Friday afternoon, police said.
Matthew Dickson, 35, of Lorton, Va., pulled out a cane sword at the landmark at 2:30 p.m., cops said. No one was injured in the bizarre display.
It wasn’t clear how the weapon got past security, as metal detectors typically catch such items.
Our men & women in blue are prepared for any situation. When an emotionally disturbed man walked into the Empire State Building holding a cane sword today, NYPD cops reacted quickly to keep people safe. Our highly-trained officers delivered a safe outcome for everyone. Well done! pic.twitter.com/NiS7Svlk7X
— Chief Terence Monahan (@NYPDChiefofDept) September 13, 2019
Dickson is a military veteran who was discharged from the Army in 2015, according to police sources. He’s believed to be suffering from PTSD and may have gone to the observation deck with the intention of doing harm to himself, the sources said.
Police posted video on Twitter showing cops taking him into custody.
“Our highly-trained officers delivered a safe outcome for everyone. Well done!” Chief of Department Terence Monahan tweeted.
The disturbed man has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, authorities said.
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