Armed naked man on Perth billboard

Police have cleared part of downtown Perth as they try to talk a naked and possibly
armed man down from the top of a billboard.
The man, wearing what appears to be a gun holster, has been walking along the top of
the billboard shouting and swearing, a witness said.
Inspector Barry Mann said police had locked down the area around the corner of
Barrack and Wellington streets and officers were attempting to talk the man down.
May Huang, who was at the scene, said the naked man was carrying what appeared to be
a firearm but it was unclear if it was a real one.
"He's been walking up and down on the billboard and swearing," she said.
Trains on the nearby rail line had been stopped.
A spokesman said police were called to the scene about 2.15pm (WST) on Saturday and
had closed Wellington street between Pier and Murray streets.
Around 4pm the shaven-headed man was still walking along the top of the billboard
wearing what appeared to be a black holster belt.
A police tactical response group, rescue vehicle and helicopter were at the scene.
Just after 4pm (WST) police negotiators began using loud hailers to urge the man to
come down.
Duty police commander Inspector Neil Blair said police had no idea who the man was
and armed tactical response officers were watching him closely.
"He's just ranting and raving at this stage, nothing that's really legible or that's
making a great deal of sense," Insp Blair said.
"It's not the actions of a rational person to be up there naked in the middle of
Perth with what appears to be a handgun."
Police were treating the handgun as a real one.
Some young men watching from the top of a car park building shouted for the man to
jump.
Insp Blair picked up a loud hailer and told the "clowns" they would be arrested if
they did not stop making the comments.
About 4.15pm the man took off the belt and threw it in the direction of Barrack Street.
A fire truck was also at the scene and a police spokesman said a ladder would be
used to reach the man if he discarded his weapon.