The internet loves those videos were someone attaches a GoPro to their face and then climbs some stupidly huge building in Dubai or whatever. The thing about those videos, though, is that they’re made by people who aren’t famous, so we don’t find out about them until the stunt is long over and the daredevil is getting a few upvotes on Reddit. However, climbing a tall thing and filming the whole process is a little harder to pull of when you’re the former star of a couple of MTV shows and a few movies. Also, apparently the law enforcement community doesn’t enjoy those videos as much as the internet does. Steve-O has now learned both of these lessons.
Earlier this month, Steve-O was really hyped on Blackfish—the documentary about how SeaWorld has created a generation of orcas that truly enjoy killing humans—so he decided to stick it to SeaWorld in his own way by climbing a 100-foot crane in Los Angeles, setting off some fireworks, and hanging a killer whale balloon with “SeaWorld Sucks” painted on it. Because Steve-O hadn’t cleared this stunt with anyone (always clear your stunts with people, kids), he had to be “rescued” by five ambulances, a helicopter, and “over 80” firefighters. As it turns out, the law enforcement community enjoys having to waste time pulling Steve-O off of a crane even less than it enjoys those videos.
Now, Steve-O has officially been charged with creating a false emergency, use of unregistered fireworks, storing fireworks without a permit, possession of fireworks without a permit, and trespassing, all of which make it pretty clear how seriously the cops in Hollywood take fireworks. We imagine the 911 call went something like this:
“I’d like to report an emergency. There’s a guy hanging from a crane that’s 100 feet in the air, and it looks like he has a tattoo of his own face on his back.”
“Uh-huh. We’ll send a car out when we get a chance.”
“Oh, wait…he also has a killer whale balloon and some fireworks.”
“Fireworks?!”
Then the operator hit a red button labeled “Fireworks Squad,” and the Fireworks Squad instantly mobilized its personal ambulance, helicopter, and team of 80 firefighters. There was also probably a theme song that played while they were putting on their Fireworks Squad gear, which we imagine featured nothing but the lyrics “Go, go Fireworks Squad!” over and over again.
Anyway, Steve-O’s arraignment is set for August 31.