A YouTube prankster faces charges and could be ordered to pay restitution after climbing the Hollywood sign.
Vitaly Zdorrovetskiy climbed the sign at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and unfurled a banner reading, "I'm back."
When the banner flew away, he climbed to the ground, then climbed back up the sign and down again before he was arrested on suspicion of trespassing in a fire zone, according to Senior Ranger Patrick Joyce of the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation.
Public address announcements were made from a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter informing Zdorrovetskiy that he was trespassing and telling him to climb down from the sign, Joyce said. Zdorrovetskiy spent a total of 20 to 25 minutes on the giant letter D, Joyce said.
Joyce said Zdorrovetskiy is a prankster who announced his intention to climb LA's most famous landmark on Twitter. A friend of the man even called news media in advance of the stunt, Joyce said.
Zdorrovetskiy's bail was set at $100, according to LA County jail records.
Joe Salaices, a city park superintendent, said officials would press for restitution for city time to respond to the incident.
"We knew he was trying to do this," Salaices said. "He had YouTube and social media advertising his climb. He had an agenda."
The Russian-born YouTube personality is known by his YouTube username VitalyzdTv whose videos have garnered more than 9 million subscribers.
Authorities used the opportunity to remind people that the climbing the Hollywood sign is not safe and that the steep terrain full of dry brush around the area is designated as a mountain fire district by the LA Fire Department, meaning nobody is allowed on the property due to the fire danger.
"The Hollywood sign is best seen from afar," Salaices said.
Angie Crouch contributed to this report.
