Performer’s struggles attract police attention
THIRD STREET PROMENADE — Police armed with bolt cutters snapped the chains off an escape artist here on Thursday after several witnesses thought he was choking to death.
Tim “Eric” Hanneman, who has a street performing license with the city of Santa Monica, also was issued a citation for “performing an act that can cause serious bodily injury.” He will have to appear in court so authorities can determine whether or not his act is safe to perform.
A large crowd had gathered around Hanneman, who was laying on the ground in a straight jacket, handcuffs and had chains wrapped tightly around his body and neck. When his neck turned nearly black and his face purple, several onlookers called 9-1-1. Santa Monica Police officers and paramedics arrived at the scene and asked Hanneman to remove the chains, which he declined to do.
So Santa Monica Police cut them for him. That was despite the keys to the padlocks being just feet away.
While Hanneman was upset that police cut the chains, which he said cost $1,500, he understood why they did it.
“I don’t hold any grudges, they are just doing their job,” he said. “I hate for that to happen, to tie up emergency services.”
Officer Semko told Hanneman he was worried that he was dying and cut the chains to help him.
Hanneman, a self-described escape artist who lives in Las Vegas and occasionally performs in Santa Monica and Venice, said this isn’t the first time onlookers have called 9-1-1. But it was the first time authorities actually cut his chains.
But Santa Monica Police officer Arnold said this time was different.
“I’ve seen you out here before and I’ve never seen your neck turn black and your face turning purple,” officer Arnold told Hanneman.
“I was fine,” Hanneman responded. “The paramedics say you were not,” officer Arnold replied, adding that Hanneman’s contusions and scrapes on his face weren’t normal.
“I’m not a normal guy,” Hanneman answered.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 23, 2005. Read the original PDF.