Police Talk Down Man from Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier
A man carrying a backpack climbed the Ferris Wheel at the Santa Monica Pier today after allegedly claiming to be carrying a bomb, but he came down peacefully about two hours later and no incendiary device was found.
Officers were dispatched about 2:40 p.m. to the pier, according to a watch commander at the Santa Monica Police Department.
"Somebody climbed the Ferris wheel, with a backpack, and began yelling at officers,'' the watch commander told City News Service.
According to police, witnesses reported hearing the suspect claim to be carrying a bomb before he began scaling the lattice-work of the 130-foot-tall Ferris wheel. Officers evacuated Pacific Park and the pier, and a crisis negotiation team was dispatched to talk to the suspect, who perched himself near the center of the wheel.
While the negotiations continued, fire crews used a bucket truck to remove riders from the Ferris wheel.
The suspect eventually climbed down and surrendered to police about 4:25 p.m. Police said he was taken to a hospital for evaluation, and no bomb or incendiary device was found.
