Jackass star Steve-O arrested for climbing crane in Hollywood

Jackass star Steve-O was arrested for climbing a crane in Hollywood in a protest against SeaWorld.

Stephen Glover, 41, drew dozens of emergency responders Sunday night to a construction site on Sunset Boulevard where he climbed a crane at least 30 metres high, Los Angeles police Lt. Michael Ling said.

When Glover reached the top, he inflated a large killer whale balloon with the words "SeaWorld Sucks" on it and lit fireworks.

• Steve-O climbs large sculpture in Calgary 
• 2011: Jackass star Steve-O arrested at Calgary airport

He later climbed down and was taken into custody.

Because the first responders were unsure whether Glover needed to be rescued, five ambulances, a helicopter and more than 80 firefighters were sent to the scene, Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said.

Emergency at same time, fire department says

She said resources were stretched thin when firefighters were called around the same time to rescue the operator of a harbour crane who was stricken with a medical emergency.

"Some of the resources on this hoax could have been devoted to a real emergency," Stewart said.

Glover will be booked for investigation of several charges, including conspiracy to commit trespassing and filming without a permit.

Glover's representative didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. A call to SeaWorld has not been returned.

He was cited last year for another protest against the theme park.

Glover said his protest was in response to controversy over the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which criticized SeaWorld's treatment of killer whales.

Climbed Calgary sculpture

Glover has been in trouble for climbing before, in Canada.

In early 2014 he climbed Wonderland, the large, wire head sculpture in front of Calgary's The Bow building. 

The owners of the building called him reckless and irresponsible, but his fans ate it up: his posts on social media about the climb received thousands of shares.