By Jorge Casuso

October 9, 2023 -- The Santa Monica Pier was evacuated Monday afternoon after a man claiming to have a bomb climbed the Pacific Park Ferris wheel, according to police.

Police were informed of the threat by a caller at 2:35 p.m. who was told by the subject he had "an explosive device in his backpack," police said.

Police evacuated the Pier and Pacific Park, said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson.

The fire department also responded to help get ten riders off the Ferris Wheel, Aklufi said.

While firefighters worked, the police department's Crisis Negotiation Team tried to convince the individual to climb down, she said.

"After about an hour, the subject came down," Aklufi said. "He was not armed with any explosives or other weapons."

The subject was transported to a hospital "for treatment for a mental health crisis."

The Pier reopened at around 5:30 p.m., according to an alert notification sent by the City's Office of Emergency Management.