A man who climbed about 250 feet into the air at Columbia’s municipal power plant on the Business Loop is jailed without bond, facing several potential charges.
Columbia Police say 33-year-old Richard Dean Nichols of Columbia jumped the fence at about 6:30 Wednesday morning and climbed the south tower. Police officers and firefighters responded and saw Nichols throwing items from the tower window and leaning out and waving his arms. CPD says police officers tried communications for about two hours via loudspeaker and that Nichols eventually surrendered and was arrested.
There were no injuries and Columbia Police say no critical infrastructure was damaged. CPD is seeking burglary, property damage and obstructing government operations charges against Nichols.
CPD’s investigation continues.