Two individuals, Angelina Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov, were arraigned on felony charges after climbing to the top of the Empire State Building in New York City. The pair, who were released under court supervision, face charges including burglary, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief.
Incident Details
According to a law enforcement source, the duo entered the building as visitors the day before the stunt and hid inside after closing. Security camera footage showed them hiding in the observatory complex. The pair then maneuvered around a gate secured with cable locks and cut two locks on the 104th floor.
The NYPD had to power down the broadcast antenna, which emits high-frequency radio signals, for about 30 minutes before officers with the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit could safely approach the climbers. Officers wearing harnesses then climbed roughly 1,250 feet up the antenna to reach the pair.
The incident caused damage to a broken security door lock on the 104th floor, estimated at about $2,000. The climbers also unfurled a banner and appeared to mark their engagement.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
