Suspect accused of altering Hollywood sign arrested

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles police on Monday arrested a man for trespassing and altering the Hollywood sign to read "Hollyweed" on New Year's Day.

Zachary Cole Fernandez, 30, voluntarily surrendered to Hollywood detectives with his attorney at his side, according to a press release from the LAPD.

Fernandez was arrested and booked for trespassing. He is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 15.

The suspect targeted the sign at about 3 a.m. New Year's Day, according to Los Angeles police, and scaled Mount Lee, made his way over a fence and then climbed onto each of the landmark's "O" letters. He then draped those letters with black tarps so they each appeared as a lowercase "e."

As bemused tourists looked on from a nearby vantage point, park rangers removed the tarps and restored the proper text's visibility by midday.

Following the prank, officials announced they would increase security measures around the landmark.

Chris Baumgart, the president of the Hollywood Sign Trust, said in a statement additional surveillance in the area will be in place.

The scandal wasn't the first time the landmark had been targeted. According to the online newsletter The Cannabist, the sign was similarly edited to read "Hollyweed" in 1976.

The lettering was also changed 10 years later as part of a publicity campaign for a movie.