Man Arrested After Dramatic Standoff on Santa Monica Ferris Wheel
Santa Monica, CA - October 9, 2023
In a high-stakes incident that unfolded at Santa Monica Pier, a man was arrested following a dramatic standoff on the iconic Ferris wheel. At approximately 2:35 PM, the Santa Monica Police Department received a distress call reporting a distraught male subject who had climbed the Ferris wheel in Pacific Park on the Pier. The man claimed to have a bomb in his backpack, escalating the situation's urgency.
Swiftly responding to the call, officers reached the scene within four minutes. The safety of approximately ten riders on the Ferris wheel was paramount, and the Fire Department's urban search and rescue team was swiftly deployed to ensure their safe evacuation.
The rescue operation, involving the use of a lift, successfully brought down five passengers from the gondolas, demonstrating remarkable teamwork and efficiency.
During the ordeal, members of the Santa Monica Police Department's Crisis Negotiation Team engaged the distressed individual in dialogue, attempting to understand his motivations. Throughout the negotiation, the individual remained agitated and made bomb threats, leading to a tense situation that lasted for over an hour.
However, it was eventually revealed that the individual was facing a mental health crisis, and no explosive devices or other weapons were found in his possession. With the crisis negotiation team's determined efforts, the individual was persuaded to climb down from the Ferris wheel, bringing the situation to a peaceful resolution.
In the wake of the incident and based on the multiple threats made, the individual, identified as 37-year-old Juan Gonzalez of Garden Grove, was placed under arrest. He now faces charges of criminal threats (a felony), making a false bomb threat to authorities, and resisting arrest.
Following his arrest, Gonzalez was evaluated by the Fire Department on-site and transported to the Santa Monica Jail for booking. The case will be presented to the District Attorney for filing on the threats charges.
The Santa Monica Police Department expressed its gratitude to the Santa Monica Fire Department, Santa Monica's Office of Emergency Management, and the professionals at the Pier and Pacific Park for their coordinated and cooperative efforts, which led to the successful outcome of the incident and subsequent arrest.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges associated with mental health crises and underscores the critical importance of crisis intervention. Thankfully, no injuries were reported during the standoff. The Santa Monica Pier has since been reopened to the public, marking the conclusion of this high-stakes situation.