Napa Police Activity Closes Highway 29, Old Sonoma Road

NAPA, CA — State Highway 29, the Old Sonoma Road overpass and surrounding Napa roadways were shut down for nearly three hours Friday while Napa police and other local law enforcement negotiated with a distraught, possibly suicidal young man, Patch has learned.

The Napa Police Department initially reported the police activity in a social media post at 12:36 p.m., saying the public should avoid CA-29 between First Street and Imola Avenue.

According to Napa police Lt. Brian Campagna, the police department received a call at about 11:51 a.m. Friday about a 21-year-old Napa man who was sending text messages to family members indicating he may be suicidal. Officers were dispatched to the Old Sonoma Road overpass at Highway 29, where the despondent young man was believed to be, Campagna said.

California Highway Patrol officers soon arrived at the scene as well, some helping with negotiations, others with traffic control.

Old Sonoma Road was closed in both directions as was Highway 29, with freeway traffic diverted off between Imola and at Lincoln Avenue.

Napa police sent an advisory urging motorists to use alternate routes, saying it was "best to avoid the Highway 29 corridor in central Napa."

Campagna said negotiators from the Napa Police Department, District Attorney's Office, Sheriff's Office and CHP all spoke with the young man.

"At 2:35 p.m., he walked off on his own accord and was taken to a local mental health facility," Campagna said.

Highway 29 and the surrounding roadways, which were shut down for the safety of motorists and pedestrians, were reopened shortly thereafter, Campagna said.

No injuries were reported in the incident, the lieutenant told Patch.

Photos from the scene by Al Francis/Napasonomaphotos.com