Man strips in traffic, yells, 'I am God,' wrestles with Melbourne cops

Police say man was taken to hospital for evaluation

I am working at the tackle shop today. This storm just moved in..... Ed Perry

MELBOURNE, Fla. – A Melbourne man who authorities said hopped out of his car on a busy causeway and stripped naked in the rain before wrestling with several police officers in front of onlookers remains under a mental evaluation.

The incident was reported about 3 p.m., Wednesday as heavy rains and winds whipped through the area. Melbourne police Lt. Steven Sadoff said that the unidentified man was driving along the Eau Gallie Causeway when he stopped and got out of his vehicle.

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“He pulled over and took off all of his clothes on top of the causeway. Then he started running around yelling, ‘I am God,’” Sadoff said.

Melbourne police arrived within moments and attempted to grab the slippery, naked man in the rain.

“They did have to wrestle with him. We didn’t know if he would do something silly or jump off the causeway at that point,” Sadoff said.

The man was handcuffed and taken into custody. He was turned over to a nearby hospital for an evaluation. An investigation continues.