Man arrested after climbing Santa Monica Ferris wheel, claimed to have bomb

May 2024 · 1 minute read

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A man who scaled the Santa Monica Pier’s famous Ferris wheel and falsely claimed to have a bomb was arrested Monday afternoon, police said.

The unidentified climber, who was wearing a backpack during his ascent, prompted a mass evacuation of Pacific Park as first responders worked to get riders off the attraction, according to reports.

The man claimed to witnesses to have a bomb as authorities tried to make contact with him, Santa Monica police said on social media.

Lt. Erika Aklufi told the Los Angeles Times officers were trying to evacuate the riders as they attempted to talk the man off the 85-foot structure.

The man could be seen in news footage slighter above the center of the wheel between beams.

At one point, authorities pleaded with news helicopters to take a higher altitude so the suspect and police officers could hear each other.

The man was in police custody around 4:30, police said in another post. He came down and was tackled by officers, NBC 4 LA reported.

No bomb or incendiary device was found, police said.

Authorities said the man was in crisis at the time of his climb. 

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