Pearl River boil advisory remains in effect after intruder climbs down from water tower

PEARL RIVER, La. (WVUE) — An intruder who climbed atop a municipal water tower prompted an emergency response Tuesday night (Jan. 13), including an immediate boil water advisory for the town of Pearl River, officials said.

Mayor Joe Lee announced the water safety measure around 7:16 p.m., saying the precautionary alert for water customers was required by Louisiana state officials.

Pearl River police said a 31-year-old man climbed atop the tower around 5 p.m. and returned safely to the ground before 8:30 p.m. The man’s identity has not been disclosed, but he was arrested by Pearl River police.

A witness at nearby Jubilee Foods confirmed a large police presence and crowd surrounding the water tower around 7 p.m., but the scene was cleared 90 minutes later.

First responders used a drone lent by Slidell Police to communicate with the man before communicating with him via cellphone to convince him to climb down.

Law enforcement authorities did not immediately respond to questions from Fox 8.

Lee said in a statement, “The entire Town of Pearl River is under a boil water advisory until further notice. An individual has climbed the water tower near Jubilee Foods and emergency response teams are currently working the scene.

“The water tower has been isolated and turned off. The town is currently running off of the second well. As a precautionary measure the State of Louisiana has required the town to issue a boil water advisory until further notice.”

This developing story will be updated as new information is confirmed.

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