Couple Climbs Empire State Building Transmission Tower and Gets Engaged

Two people reached the top of the Empire State Building's transmission tower Wednesday afternoon and were arrested after one proposed to the other on the structure. Police identified the pair as Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angelina Nikolau, 33. Both live in East Orange, New Jersey, and are originally from Russia. Kuznetsov uses the online name Ivan Beerkus; Nikolau uses Angela.

Authorities charged each with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, violation of local law, possession of burglar's tools, criminal tampering, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. NYPD bodycam video shows the two walking out of the building's loading dock in handcuffs wearing black clothing. A witness said they did not resist or appear injured.

“The unauthorized incident at the building has been resolved with the constructive and helpful coordination of the NYPD. They appeared in a documentary about scaling Malaysia's Merdeka 118 Tower, which stands 2,227 feet tall. Nikolau posted photographs and video of the Empire State Building climb on social media while it was underway. One image shows Kuznetsov on one knee; another shows Nikolau displaying a ring against the skyline. The Empire State Building shut down its antenna during the incident to reduce exposure to radio waves. Officials said the tower was transmitting when the pair reached the top.”

The activity is known as rooftopping.

One participant who has climbed for a decade said the risk of arrest on the Empire State Building exceeds the reward for most people. The couple has described the climbs as an art form. Nikolau posted a video from another Manhattan skyscraper two days earlier celebrating her birthday. Earlier posts show similar incidents in Miami and China.