Tourist Gets Community Service For Brooklyn Bridge Climb
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A French tourist charged after scaling the Brooklyn Bridge in November has been sentenced to community service.
Yonathan Souid, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge, will have to spend 240 hours cleaning a Manhattan jail.
Souid's lawyer said he "prefers cleaning a jail than to actually live in one.''
The 23-year-old university student was arrested on Nov. 16 after climbing the bridge to take photos. He said it wasn't his intention to hurt anyone, but he has a passion for photography.
Souid was sentenced on Tuesday and assigned to the Manhattan Detention Center.
Back in July, two German artists stole the two American flags that sit atop the famous bridge and replaced them with white-washed versions. Then in August, a Russian tourist climbed the bridge to take pictures.
The incidents set off concerns about security at New York City's landmarks.
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