04:09 PM CST on Tuesday, November 22, 2005

From KHOU-TV Staff Reports

KHOU-TV

Houston police subdued Robert before he could begin climbing.

HOUSTON — A man who calls himself "Spiderman" was tackled by Houston police officers after trying to scale a downtown office building Tuesday morning.

The suspect is a Frenchman named Alain Robert, who has reportedly scaled skyscrapers around the world—often with his bare hands.

"I haven't commited any crime. No trespass, (not) reckless," Robert said as he was handcuffed at One Houston Center. "If you can charge me with something, I really want to hear it."

He was wearing logos for an online casino that has sponsored several of his climbs. It's the same gambling site that sponsored the infamous streaker who bolted past security at Reliant Stadium in Houston at the 2004 Super Bowl.

Investigators said they learned about Robert's scheme because he had alerted the media.

"In fact, he did try to scale the side over here on Walker and one of the officers was able to grab him and bring him down," said Houston police Lt. D.B. Edwards. "Apparently this guy does this all throughout the world. He wanted some media attention, so we were able to come out here and be on the lookout for him."

According to his Web site, Robert has climbed more than 60 skyscrapers and landmarks worldwide, including the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, Chicago's Sears Tower and the Sydney Harbor Bridge in Australia.

There was no word on what charges—if any—Robert will face.

"I think that there is still that spirit of freedom in the United States," Robert said as he was hustled away. "For me, life is a game."