Brooklyn Bridge climber arrested on Monday. The French tourist was charged with reckless endangerment and criminal trespass.
However, according to the defendant's lawyer, Yonathan Souid of Esnandes, France, was only trying to have a much better vantage point so that he could take sweeping photos of the city. That was the reason why he walked out onto the bridge's beams over busy traffic.
The prosecutors, however, insist that Souid climbed over the fence on the pedestrian walkway of the bridge around noon on Sunday. He was then found standing on the beams of the bridge, the ones that were connected to the tower, on the Manhattan side.
Kenneth Thompson, a Brooklyn District attorney, said that such conduct was very dangerous, not only for himself but for the other people on the bridge as well. Plus, Thompson reiterated that such behavior will not be tolerated. It looks like he is looking forward for Souid to face jail time.
"This defendant's foolish and unlawful conduct is a breach of security and a danger to himself and others," said Thompson.
After being arrested, the 23-year-old Brooklyn Bridge climber arrested posted bail and was released. However, he was asked to surrender his passport. His lawyer, James Meadows, states that Souid must postpone his studies now while he is still waiting for the case to be resolved.
Souid was only in town to attend a religious conference. He has only been in the city a little over a week. He was already scheduled to head back to his home town on Sunday before his stunt. His lawyer only describes him as a clueless tourist who is unaware of what the act meant, especially after the 9/11 incident in New York.
According to Meadows, his client was truly only trying to get good photos of the city, but, sadly, never got the chance to do so since the police arrested him too quickly. He never got to snap a single photograph despite the bridge-climbing effort.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
