MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — That’s one way to stop traffic.
A Florida man climbed atop a traffic light pole in Miami Beach on Friday, the Miami Herald reported. Todd Fitzroy Boothe, 29, of Miramar, inched along the structure while dangling his legs astride the pole in the busy South Beach entertainment district, the newspaper reported.
Boothe was arrested and charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and resisting an officer without violence, according to Miami-Dade County online court records.
Boothe’s actions at about 5:25 p.m. EDT snarled traffic as bystanders began taking video, WPLG reported.
#BecauseMiami pic.twitter.com/MfuRvYjnQL
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) May 15, 2021
After straddling the light pole, Boothe jumped onto the sidewalk and fled the area, the television station reported.
Boothe was able to elude authorities for several minutes, ducking into the area of the Hotel Taft before exiting through the building’s patio area, the Herald reported.
“I thought the police were gonna converge and get him, but he got up and (ran off),” Sherbrooke Hotel owner Mitch Novick told WSVN.
Police were finally able to catch up to Boothe and arrested him, the Herald reported.
According to an arrest report, “Mr. Boothe’s actions caused vehicle traffic to slow at almost a complete stop, as pedestrians began to gather and spill onto the roadway endangering pedestrians as they began standing and filming.”
Here’s when the guy finally came down after being perched on the 10th Street and Collins traffic signal post. He ran from police and was caught as he approached #MiamiBeach PD. Todd Boothe, 29, of Miramar was booked for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. @wsvn #Exclusive pic.twitter.com/UuWPxf5FbQ
— Sheldon Fox-7 News (@fox_sheldon) May 15, 2021
Boothe was being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $1,500 bond as of Saturday morning, the Herald reported.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, according to online court records.
Cox Media Group