Tourists arrested for climbing up Lions Gate Bridge for 'photo op'
Two tourists in their 20s are facing charges after police say they climbed as high as 70 feet up the Lions Gate Bridge for a "photo op."
The police incident snarled traffic and prompted a lane closure on the busy commuter route, and forced buses between downtown Vancouver and the North Shore to be re-routed for several hours Thursday morning.
Const. Jason Doucette said a passing motorist called 911 around 8:30 a.m. after seeing a man climb over the railing and pull himself up the guy-wires to "about 50 to 70 feet (15 to 21 metres) up the bridge deck."
The man was wearing a headlamp and carrying a large backpack.
Attending officers couldn’t see the duo when they arrived, and the Emergency Response Team’s high-angle rescue specialists were called out to search the enclosed pathways and guy-wire systems, Doucette said.
Because of the backpack, officers thought there could be some kind of threat.
The climbers, who are visiting from Washington State, were taken into custody after they were seen scaling back down the wires to the bridge deck.
Their camera equipment was seized and the Vancouver Police Department says it will recommend charges against the men.
"It's very irresponsible to put people in harm's way over a photograph," Doucette said.
Eyoalha Baker had been walking along the bridge when she saw a couple of men running across the top of one of the suspension bridge's towers. She said they looked like they were hiding.
...
pics video etc at the source
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/tourists-arrested-for-climbing-up-lions-gate-bridge-for-photo-op-1.3492074
Prev
Linear Mode
