LEWISTON – Police, fire and rescue crews gathered on both sides of the Androscoggin River on Friday morning after several witnesses reported that a man was acting strangely on the ice.

Witnesses in both Lewiston and Auburn told police the man, who police declined to identify, was jumping up and down on the frozen river, pacing back and forth and at one point, partially disrobing.

Auburn police sent officers to that side of the river, a short distance from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge. Lewiston police made their way down to the river in that city.

Meanwhile, firefighters were preparing to launch rescue boats on the chance that the man might fall through the ice. A state game warden went to the area and suited up in a cold water suit in preparation for a rescue.

Clad in a light coat, jeans and sneakers, the 30-year-old reportedly walked out onto the river about 10:30 a.m. from the Auburn side and remained there for at least a half hour. He was not wearing a hat or gloves in the cold , witnesses said.

Witnesses said at one point, the man took off his coat, removed his shirt and dropped his jeans down to his ankles. After approximately a minute, witnesses said the man tugged his pants back up, pulled his coat on and resumed pacing.

They said he walked to the Auburn side of the river several times, turned around and headed toward the opposite shore.

In Lewiston, police went to the river through the woods near the end of Whipple Street. In Auburn, police and rescuers were staged at a boat launch along North River Road.

For a time, it was unknown which side of the river the man would head toward. When he began to approach Lewiston police who were calling to him from that side, the man headed toward shore, pausing a few times before reaching police.

When he got to shore, a short distance from Riverside Cemetery, police helped the man off the ice and led him up to an embankment. The 30-year-old did not appear to be hurt but was taken to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center to be evaluated.

Because the man was not criminally charged, police declined to identify him.