Man Climbs Ferris Wheel in California, Claims to Have Bomb

A man was taken into custody by police in California after climbing a Ferris wheel and claiming to have a bomb on Monday afternoon. The incident forced the evacuation of the Santa Monica Pier.

A man was taken into custody by police in California after climbing a Ferris wheel and claiming to have a bomb on Monday afternoon. The incident forced the evacuation of the Santa Monica Pier.

The Santa Monica Police Department received a call at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time regarding a man who had climbed a Ferris wheel at Pacific Park and was threatening to detonate a bomb.

Man Climbs Ferris Wheel in California, Claims to Have Bomb

Police officers and firefighters responded to the scene and evacuated the pier as a precaution. The man, who was later identified as 25-year-old Matthew Garcia, remained on the Ferris wheel for several hours while negotiators attempted to talk him down.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., Garcia was taken into custody without incident. He was booked on suspicion of making terrorist threats.

Man Climbs Ferris Wheel in California, Claims to Have Bomb

The Santa Monica Pier was reopened to the public at approximately 5:00 p.m.

The incident comes amid heightened security concerns following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino. However, authorities said there is no indication that Monday's incident was related to terrorism.

Man Climbs Ferris Wheel in California, Claims to Have Bomb

"We are still investigating the motive behind this incident," said Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks. "But we are grateful that it ended peacefully and that no one was injured."

Garcia is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

Man Climbs Ferris Wheel in California, Claims to Have Bomb

The incident is the latest in a string of high-profile security scares in California in recent months. In October, a man was arrested for making bomb threats at the University of California, Berkeley. And in November, a man was arrested for bringing a gun onto the campus of the University of Southern California.

The incidents have raised concerns about the safety of public spaces in California. However, authorities say that they are taking steps to improve security and prevent future incidents.

Man Climbs Ferris Wheel in California, Claims to Have Bomb

"We are committed to keeping our communities safe," said Seabrooks. "We are constantly evaluating our security measures and working with our partners to ensure that we are doing everything we can to prevent these types of incidents."