Naked man climbed L.A. tower, "rescued" after 6 hours

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

A naked man perches atop a 228-foot high LAPD communications tower in downtown Los Angeles, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012.

(Credit: AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - Police say a naked man climbed to the top of a communications tower used by the Los Angeles Police Department and sat there for nearly six hours before he was lowered back to solid ground in a basket.

Yes, a basket case.

The man began climbing the 228-foot tower in downtown L.A. at around 4 p.m. Wednesday, shedding clothes as he ascended, and ended up on top of it naked, Officer Karen Rayner says. The Arizona Republic reports that he told police he had driven from Arizona.

It wasn't until around 8:30 p.m. that the man climbed down a ladder to a platform about midway down the tower where he was met by police officers. He was then slowly lowered to the ground by a makeshift pulley system as he sat in a basket, and was taken into police custody.

The man could be heard yelling, but it was unintelligible.

It's not known why he climbed the tower, which is part of the police department's personnel building on East Temple Street.

Police told the Daily Breeze that the man will not be charged with a crime and his name will not be released.

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by ProgressNow February 13, 2012 11:19 AM EST: Yet another frustrated republican...most of them really don't like the choices being offered and you're begining to see the base (i.e., this naked man on a wire) act out in very odd ways.; Reply to this comment


by ReckonedTruth February 13, 2012 10:23 AM EST: Another NUT CASE from that great and wonderful state of Arizona.. I'm starting to think Arizona citizens are a special breed all to themselves..(laughing) ..; Reply to this comment