Steve-O nabbed by LAPD after climbing atop Hollywood crane

Aug. 9, 2015 10:29 PM PT

The “Jackass” star Steve-O was taken into custody Sunday after he climbed atop a construction crane in Hollywood, police said.

More than 80 firefighters were called to the 6000 block of West Selma Avenue about 8 p.m. on reports of a possible suicide attempt after an unidentified person was spotted on the crane, Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said.

As fire crews prepared an “air rescue cushion,” Steve-O -- a comedian, stunt performer and television personality most famous for the MTV show “Jackass” -- had posted videos and photos of himself from the top of the crane on his Facebook page.

“It’s stunt time,” Steve-O wrote in his first post of the night, which included a nearly five-minute video documenting the initial moments of his daring ascent.

After reaching the top, he photographed a view to the ground showing his shoes standing on a narrow steel beam. In the caption, he wrote, “Did I mention that I’m really high in the air? Hearing sirens now.”

For his last post of the night, a 17-second video, he showed a throng of fire engines on the street below him, with the drone of a helicopter overhead.

“That is a lot, a lot of [expletive] firetrucks,” Steve-O wrote in the video caption. “Anyone wanna bail me out of jail?”

LAPD Lt. Michael Ling confirmed that Steve-O, whose real name is Stephen Glover, was arrested and is expected to be booked on suspicion of trespassing, setting a firework without a permit, and conspiracy to commit a crime. Investigators are still determining what charges apply, Ling said.

The apparent stunt prompted annoyance and frustration among public safety officials. More than 30 LAPD officers were called to the scene, and Selma Avenue was shut down.

“We have other people we need to attend to,” Ling said. “It’s a mess.”

Glover, 41, brought an inflatable Orca with him to the top of the crane and wore a “Blackfish” T-shirt, making the stunt another of his public demonstrations against SeaWorld.

Last year, he was charged with a traffic infraction for an anti-SeaWorld stunt in which he defaced a freeway sign in San Diego. He posted a YouTube video in August 2014 showing him climbing up the freeway sign to attach the word “sucks’’ after the words “Sea World.”

For breaking news in California, follow @MattHjourno.

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