Santa Monica Daily Press
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2005
Volume 5, Issue 35 A newspaper with issues
Performer’s struggles attract police attention

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.