Posted on 11/23/2005 9:21:55 AM PST by Cagey
HOUSTON: A daredevil climber known as "the French Spiderman" who has scaled skyscrapers around the globe was arrested as he tried to clamber up a Houston office building, authorities said.
Alain Robert, 43, dashed from a taxi to the 46-story Houston Center but was stopped just as he was starting his ascent. Police said a reporter had tipped them off to his plans.
"A tall officer was able to grab his ankles. He was about one or two steps from getting away," Houston police spokesman Alan Wright said.
Robert's website claims he has climbed some 70 buildings including the Eiffel Tower; the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; London's Canary Wharf Building; the Empire State Building in New York and Chicago's Sears Tower.
Last December he defied stiff winds and rain to climb the world's tallest building, Taipei 101, in Taiwan's capital.
Houston police charged Robert with criminal trespass and possession of narcotics. They said Xanax tablets were in his bag and it was unclear if he had a doctor's prescription for the anti-anxiety drug.
Another GoldenPalace.com promo guy!
In more traditional garb.
Think he's an "angry youth" or a "drug dealer"? I mean, there are no French criminals right?
Could you just imagine the childhood scarring that would be done to a kid watching this drug addled Frenchman plumment to his death, hitting the ground like a hefty bag full of vegetable soup, all while wearing a Spidey outfit?!
plumment=plummet
From http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-09/23/content_377098.htm
"In April 2003, Robert donned a shirt with the message, 'No war,' and scaled the 47-storey headquarters of oil giant TotalFina Elf outside Paris to protest the war in Iraq."
Dopey moonbat.
Our police are ready for anything.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.