Pam the Bird suspect arrested after Bolte Bridge standoff

A man who appears to be alleged “Pam the Bird” graffiti artist Jack Gibson-Burrell has been arrested at Collins Wharf in Docklands following an hours-long standoff with police on the Bolte Bridge.

The man had allegedly scaled the bridge’s eastern tower early on Tuesday morning and painted a large Pam the Bird-style tag high on the structure, before refusing police directions to come down.

Victoria Police earlier described the incident as an active and complex operation, with uniformed officers and water police deployed while one inbound lane of the bridge was closed.

The standoff came to an end before 11am on July 7 when the man made his way down from the bridge tower and across the rocks below, before emerging near the tip of Collins Wharf.

Docklands News photographer Hanna Komissarova captured the moment he walked across the wharf, put his hands up and was met by waiting police officers.

He was then arrested at the scene.

Throughout the morning, social media posts appearing to come from the man showed him on top of the bridge tower, where he made a series of comments while refusing to come down.

Police had earlier said there was no threat to the public or road users, but urged media and others in the area to stop flying drones due to safety concerns.

The Pam the Bird tag has become one of Melbourne’s most recognisable graffiti symbols, appearing across prominent buildings and infrastructure throughout the city.

Gibson-Burrell has previously pleaded not guilty to more than 200 graffiti-related charges, including allegations of causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage across Melbourne.

Police have not yet formally confirmed the identity of the man arrested over Tuesday’s Bolte Bridge incident.

Police said a 22-year-old Yarraville man was arrested at the scene without further incident.

He will be interviewed by investigators.