Nova Centre crane climbers arrested, facing charges

Two men have been arrested after climbing a construction crane in downtown Halifax and one of them is accused of assaulting a police officer who was trying to get him to safety.

Halifax Regional Police officers were called to the Nova Centre construction site at Argyle and Sackville streets just before 1 a.m. on Tuesday after someone said they saw two men climb to the top of one of the construction cranes within the gated property.

By the time police arrived, the men had climbed down and were standing on the top floor of the building under construction.

But they couldn't figure out how to get out.

Halifax Regional Police said two officers climbed to where the pair were and a 23-year-old Halifax man was arrested for public intoxication.

Police say the second man a 23-year-old from Linwood refused to listen to the officers and pushed one of them during the arrest attempt.

Both men were eventually brought down safely. No one was injured.

The Linwood man faces charges of resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer. Halifax Regional Police Const. Pierre Bourdages said alcohol "was a factor" in the case.