Crime26 July, 20262 min read
Seattle Police Search for Two Men After Unauthorized BASE Jump From Space Needle
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Two men climbed over the Space Needle's glass barrier and parachuted from the 605-foot top. They entered with purchased tickets scanned at the entrance, per police.
Illegal BASE jump
Seattle police are searching for two men after they climbed over the glass safety barrier at the Space Needle, flipped over the edge and parachuted to the ground in an unauthorized BASE jump on Friday evening.
The Seattle Police Department said the pair entered the Space Needle at around 8:50 p.m. Friday after purchasing admission tickets, and officers reported they were unable to locate the jumpers after they landed.
Police said the men were seen on camera reaching the observation deck, then entering a restroom and later emerging wearing helmets before running toward the glass barrier and jumping off the 605-foot structure.
A Space Needle spokesperson told FOX 13 Seattle, "We can confirm there was an illegal incident at the Space Needle and are working closely with the Seattle Police Department."
Trespassing charges
Police said the jumpers face trespassing charges, with a report provided by police spokesperson Detective Brian Pritchard stating the men climbed over the glass wall and parachuted down from the 605-foot structure. KOMO reported that the incident was reported to Seattle police at around 9:21 p.m., and officers said the suspects were seen on camera at the top level before entering a restroom and coming out with their helmets on.
KOMO also said the two men approached a glass window facing northbound with Lake Union in the background, ran and jumped over to the opposite side of the glass, and did a back flip off the ledge. The Seattle Police Department described the suspects only as white men in their late 20s, and the Space Needle said it was reviewing security footage and assisting with the active investigation, according to the statement quoted by KOMO: "We are aware of an illegal incident at the Space Needle and are working closely with the Seattle Police Department."
Search and uncertainty
As Seattle police continued searching, multiple outlets said security personnel were unsure where the men landed and officers could not locate the individuals. The Associated Press reported that the jumpers have not been identified by authorities and were described only as white men in their late 20s, after police said they ran to the glass window, climbed over to the other side, and jumped off.
“Both suspects approached the glass window facing northbound, running and jumping over to the opposite side of the glass.”
MyNorthwest said video on X showed the men scaling the glass-panel barrier at the top, then jumping over it and landing on the Needle’s outer-ring platform, while also noting it was unclear where the men landed or where they went after the stunt. The Seattle Police Department issued a statement saying the two men committed the crime of Criminal Trespass in the 1st Degree, and the statement quoted by MyNorthwest included that "Both suspects approached the glass window facing northbound, running and jumping over to the opposite side of the glass."