A climber clapped in cuffs one day after posting a video of himself on top of one of Pittsburgh\u2019s iconic skyscrapers.<\/p>\n
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Man briefly held by police at Gulf Tower in Pittsburgh, day after he appeared to scale the building<\/a><\/p>\n After his release, he spoke exclusively with Channel 11.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t expecting it to blow up like it did,\u201d Austin Seik told Channel 11.<\/p>\n Seik is a climber. He got hooked on it during COVID and has posted videos of himself atop a number of Pittsburgh landmarks.<\/p>\n He\u2019d been planning his latest climb for two years.<\/p>\n Friday, he and a female went back to the building to retrieve a jacket they\u2019d left.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I get out of my vehicle, the construction manager approached,\u201d he said – adding that the manager informed him police were on their way.<\/p>\n Only Channel 11 was there as the pair was clapped in handcuffs and led to a police cruiser.<\/p>\n \u201cI still got the little marks from the cuffs. I\u2019m in handcuffs in the back of a cop cruiser on my way to the Allegheny County Jail,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t get all the way there. He says they cooperated with police and were let go.<\/p>\n Channel 11 asked him if the incident had made him rethink climbing.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter everything that happened today, I\u2019m not too sure about it,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not worth the cuffs. It\u2019s not worth the heartache to my friends, my family. If one slip happens, that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe I am done.\u201d<\/p>\n The building\u2019s owner told our Lauren Talotta that he plans on pressing charges.<\/p>\n Seik told me he has a follow-up with police in a couple of days, but doesn\u2019t expect to serve any jail time.<\/p>\n He also said he wants to continue his video work, but legally.<\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n