YouTube prankster arrested for climbing Hollywood's giant D

LOS ANGELES, May 26 (UPI) -- A popular YouTube prankster was taken into custody after scaling the D in the iconic Hollywood sign and waving a banner reading, "I'm Back!"

Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, a Russian-American famed for his prank videos on YouTube and the film Natural Born Pranksters, was seen climbing the 45-foot-tall D just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and he was seen climbing back down just a few minutes later when he dropped his banner.

Zdorovetskiy, who appeared to be wearing a small camera on his head, re-scaled the giant letter moments later.

Park rangers and Los Angeles Police Department officers attempted to coax Zdorovetskiy down from the sign until about 6:40, when he climbed down the hill and surrendered to rangers.

Officials said Zdorovetskiy, who was released after posting bail Wednesday night, would be charged with trespassing, which carries a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in county jail.

"I did this because adrenaline, man, you only live once and you have to explore things," Zdorovetskiy told KABC-TV. "I got high on life."

Zdorovetskiy said he enjoyed his time atop the sign, despite the police helicopters flying overhead.

"It's nice and peaceful," he told CBS Los Angeles. "You see the whole LA, thought about my life and where it went. It was good."

Zdorovetskiy teased the stunt Tuesday with a tweet promising "a huge stunt" for the "welcome back video."

Police said Zdorovetskiy was arrested for a nearly identical stunt last year.