A man who captured national attention Friday with a seemingly romantic, but reckless, marriage proposal on a California rock was taken to jail on drug charges and told he would have to pay for his own rescue.
San Luis Obisbo Sheriff jail records show that 27-year-old Michael John Paul Banks of Fresno was booked on misdemeanor drug use and possession charges on Thursday, and released on $10,000 bond.
Banks had scaled the 600-foot Morro Rock in Central California's Morro Bay on Thursday morning to ask his girfriend to marry him via Facetime. While she reportedly said "yes," it's unclear if she knew at the time her paramour was allegedly on drugs.
During the proposal, Banks got stuck. And a California Highway Patrol helicopter was set to airlift him from the steep rock 90 feet above the ocean.
It is illegal to climb Morro Rock. Trying to reach Banks on Friday was not immediately successful.
The city of Morro Bay posted a video of some of the rescue and said the "gentleman will be billed for the chopper ride and other related costs."[[375060181, C]]
