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Three arrested in Downtown BASE jumping attempt

4 Comments
UPDATED April 30, 2008, 11:52am

By Jake Weyer

Three men were arrested and fined for trespassing early Tuesday morning when police caught them at the 28-story Pinnacle tower, apparently preparing to jump and parachute from the top.

A neighbor called police around 3:20 a.m. after spotting the men at the building, located at 20 2nd St. NE, according to the police report. The men, age 22, 33 and 36, were arrested with parachutes and other BASE jumping gear.

BASE is an acronym for Building, Antennae, Span, Earth. BASE jumping involves free diving from any of these structures and parachuting to the ground.

The extreme sport is illegal in most cities, including Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jesse Garcia questioned whether a jumper could open a parachute in time to land safely after a jump from the Pinnacle or most other Minneapolis buildings. He said police probably saved their lives.

“These aren’t very tall buildings,” Garcia said. “It’s suicidal to jump off buildings that high.”

Garcia said he couldn’t recall any past arrests of BASE jumpers in the city.

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Update Please

By Andy C, May 11, 2008

An update to the story would be great. I understand all charges have been dropped. The reasoning being that friends that live in the building opened the door for them therefore they were not trespassing. What a waste of time on the MPD's behalf.

Saving Lives?

By Andy C, May 6, 2008

My post was cut short by a accidental pressing of the return key. I thought that may have been obvious due to the lack of any content in my message. I can't confirm the amount of base jumps these men have had. Which you seem to be able to by your comment. Knowing what they are "doning" or doing as I would put it, and the inevitable risk involved are two different things. I have little knowledge of BASE jumping but there is an obvious inherent risk involved when you plunge from a low altitude building. It is upsetting to me that these men would waste the police force's time by performing stunts like this. The police must respond to the complaint that was placed by the neighbor. Even if the men are choosing to do this on there own free will. They are only wasting tax dollars for there own personal enjoyment. I also would like to note that Sgt. Garcia probably didn't mind dropping the saving of lives comment to increase the public perception of the MPD.

By g, May 2, 2008

These guys have a lot of BASE jumps. They know what they are doning. Teh cops did not save their lives.

Saving Lives

By Andy C, April 30, 2008