Man fleeing Edmonton police climbs tree; officers have to talk him down

EDMONTON – Police in Edmonton say it took four hours to talk a suspect down from a tree where he had perched in an attempt to evade officers.

They say police had approached the man on Wednesday night because he was walking erratically on the side of a busy road in the city’s southwest.

Police say he discharged bear spray at an officer and police then fired a shot.

The man was not injured but fled into a wooded area.

Officers, a canine team, a tactical unit and the police helicopter located him 40 minutes later about 10 metres up a tree.

Frederick Andrews, who is 27, faces three charges, includingassaulting a peace officer with a weapon.

Andrews also had fourteen outstanding warrants against him for aggravated assault, assault and possession of a weapon.