At approximately 6:30 pm on Friday, September 20, Red Deer RCMP received a report of a man climbing the Telus tower located on Hermary Street in the Highland Green neighbourhood of Red Deer. RCMP responded to the call and confirmed that a man was on the second-highest platform of the tower.
The tower is surrounded by a high fence with razor wire, and investigation determined that a small section of fencing had been cut.
City fire and EMS personnel attended the scene to work with RCMP on a rescue plan, with assistance from a Telus technician. Responders required Telus to shut down the tower before the rescue attempt, which may have impacted Telus service during this time. An inopportune lightning storm delayed the rescue plans, but the man descended the tower of his own accord at approximately 8:30 pm and was taken into custody.
The 26-year-old man from Red Deer is facing several Criminal Code charges.