A six-hour standoff with an armed and suicidal man at San Francisco's Civic Center ended Saturday after he surrendered, police said.The standoff began after the man called 911 around noon to say he was going to harm himself and any officer who comes close to him, police Officer Carlos Manfredi said.The call prompted authorities to empty the busy area around City Hall of pedestrians and motorists.Negotiators who made contact with the man at United Nations Plaza reported seeing a handgun, and when the standoff was over Manfredi tweeted a photo of the weapon stuffed in a black holster.The San Francisco Chronicle reported the weapon turned out to be a replica gun that shoots plastic pellets."This could not have ended any better," Manfredi told the newspaper. "Now we can get this guy the help he needs."The standoff caused traffic to back up in the city's core.The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction above Civic Center Plaza because of the standoff. Noise from news helicopters was interfering with negotiations and creating a hostile situation with the man, Manfredi said.

A six-hour standoff with an armed and suicidal man at San Francisco's Civic Center ended Saturday after he surrendered, police said.

The standoff began after the man called 911 around noon to say he was going to harm himself and any officer who comes close to him, police Officer Carlos Manfredi said.


The call prompted authorities to empty the busy area around City Hall of pedestrians and motorists.

Negotiators who made contact with the man at United Nations Plaza reported seeing a handgun, and when the standoff was over Manfredi tweeted a photo of the weapon stuffed in a black holster.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported the weapon turned out to be a replica gun that shoots plastic pellets.

San Francisco Police Department

"This could not have ended any better," Manfredi told the newspaper. "Now we can get this guy the help he needs."

The standoff caused traffic to back up in the city's core.

The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction above Civic Center Plaza because of the standoff. Noise from news helicopters was interfering with negotiations and creating a hostile situation with the man, Manfredi said.