Marisa Lazo’s friend describes her as just “an adventurous girl,” and the choice to clamber up a construction crane as “not her best decision.” But Toronto police say the incident is criminal mischief — and it landed Lazo in jail.
Lazo, whose stranding atop the sky-high crane and dramatic rescue from it, transfixed onlookers for hours on Wednesday morning, was released on $500 bail Thursday. She faces six charges of mischief.
After her rescue, she was taken into police custody, but many unanswered questions — and much public curiosity — about her motives linger.
On Thursday, her bail hearing at Old City Hall shed little light on matters.
In the moments before Lazo’s bail hearing, a woman identifying herself as a “close friend” said Lazo simply has an adventurous spirit.
“It was not her best decision, but the fact that she did it was not a shock to me,” Sara Burton told reporters.
She identified Lazo as the owner of an Instagram account which includes photos that appear to show Lazo standing on the edges of rooftops with the Toronto skyline in the background.
Another friend, who asked not to be named, told the Star Wednesday that Lazo just “likes to climb things.”
While Lazo, herself, has not publicly commented on whether or not that is true, the practice of scaling skyscrapers and other tall structures is not unheard of in Toronto.
Over the past several years the practice of “rooftopping” — climbing up skyscrapers, abandoned buildings and construction equipment to take in views or snap photos — has grown in popularity.
“Rooftopping has become a photography trend that people all over the world are getting a piece of,” wrote photographer Neil Ta in a 2014 blog post about why he would no longer rooftop.
“In the beginning, we would simply walk into a building and . . . take the stairs or elevators to the top and look for an unlocked door or hatch,” Ta wrote. “But a newer breed of rooftopper in Toronto emerged. The idea was for them to get from 0 to 100 as quickly as possible without learning how to do it in a way that was respectful.”
Tom Ryaboi, a fellow rooftop photographer, told the Star in 2012 that climbing above Toronto is thrilling.
“You overlook the city. It’s really amazing, like a deep breath of euphoria,” he said.
When Lazo arrived in the courtroom at Old City Hall around midday Thursday, a man in the back shouted, “Marisa, you’re an angel.”
Following the hearing, Lazo made no comment to reporters gathered outside the court as she walked out.
As conditions of her bail, she must reside at an address approved by the Toronto Bail Program and attend any treatment, counseling, or rehabilitative programs ordered by her bail supervisor.
She may not enter any construction sites or go on any rooftops.
Lazo, who is a U.S. citizen, was also ordered to surrender her U.S. citizenship card.
Her bail hearing was held in Old City Hall’s mental health court.
But Crown Attorney Catherine Finley told the Star that, based on what the court saw at the hearing, there are no issues with Lazo’s mental fitness.
Court documents indicate that Lazo’s six charges of mischief relate to “interference with the lawful operation” of the construction site located at 50 Wellesley St. E., the Toronto Transit Commission bus service, the Toronto Emergency Services Paramedic Service, and the Toronto Fire Department.
The charges also relate to causing danger to the life of a Toronto police officer and firefighter.
Alison Craig, a Toronto criminal lawyer who is not involved in Lazo’s case, said she believes this is “overcharging” and “one count would cover the entire event.”
“In my opinion, it’s not going to result in any longer of a sentence should she be convicted of them all,” Craig said.
Lazo was rescued more than four hours after police were first alerted to a woman on the crane downtown.
Firefighter Rob Wonfor, a 52-year-old acting captain, climbed the crane and placed Lazo in a safety harness before securing her and rappelling to the ground.
Hundreds of people gathered to watch the rescue, which began at around 6 a.m. Wednesday, and lasted for 2 ½ hours.
Lazo was handcuffed after reaching the ground, and loaded into an ambulance.
She was taken to hospital for a checkup and spent the night in police custody.
