Justin Casquejo

Justin Casquejo is an American rooftopper, free solo climber and stunt performer who has scaled several skyscrapers in Manhattan, New York City, as well as a water tower in his hometown, Weehawken, New Jersey. He has been arrested, charged, and convicted for some of his activities. Others have been brought to light through his publication on social media, such as Instagram and YouTube.

One World Trade Center

In March 2014, Casquejo climbed to the top of the topped-out, but not yet completed, 1,776-foot (541 m) One World Trade Center.[1] Casquejo, then 16 years old, entered the site through a hole in a fence. He was subsequently arrested on trespassing charges.[2] He allegedly dressed like a construction worker, snuck in, and convinced an elevator operator to lift him to the tower's 88th floor, according to news sources. He then used stairways to get to the 104th floor, walked past a sleeping security guard, and climbed up a ladder to get to the antenna, where he took pictures for two hours.[3] The elevator operator was reassigned, and the guard was fired.[4][5] It was then revealed that officials had failed to install security cameras in the tower, which facilitated Casquejo's entry to the site.[6][7]

In July 2014, in a plea agreement, Casquejo admitted to breaking a city misdemeanor law against scaling tall buildings without permission. He was sentenced to 23 days of service (which he completed with an extra six days). He submitted, as was required, a 1,200-word essay explaining what he had learned from the episode.[8]

Weehawken Water Tower

In September 2014, Casquejo was again arrested for scaling the 175-foot (53 m) Weehawken Water Tower. He was charged with defiant trespassing and resisting arrest.[9][10]

70 Pine Street

On February 21, 2016, Casquejo was charged with misdemeanor BASE jumping and trespassing for climbing above the roof at 70 Pine Street, an 850-foot (260 m), 67-story luxury apartment in the Financial District.[11] He avoided jail time in the sentencing on September 6, 2017, after pleading guilty to BASE jumping. He was granted youthful offender status; the case will eventually be sealed.[12]

Paramount Tower

In June 2017, Casquejo was arrested at the 568-foot (173 m)[13] Paramount, a 52-story residential skyscraper on East 39th Street in Turtle Bay, Manhattan.[14][15][16] In September 2017 Casquejo pleaded guilty to second-degree trespass in exchange for three years' probation for scaling the luxury apartment building.

Unapprehended climbs

In addition to those situations where he has been apprehended, Casquejo has posted images of climbing the George Washington Bridge and buildings near Times Square, Columbus Circle, and the Empire State Building.[17] He has a large following on Instagram and YouTube.[18]

220 Central Park South

In November 2016 Casquejo hung from a construction crane at the not-yet-completed 950-foot (290 m) 220 Central Park South.[19][20][21][22]

Other climbs and arrests

Despite his probation Casquejo made other climbs,[23] for which he was arrested.[24][25][26][27][28]

See also

References
  1. Schwirtz, Michael (March 20, 2014). "Port Agency Investigates Boy's Ascent of World Trade Center". The New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  2. "New Jersey teen sneaks to top of 1 World Trade Center, police say". CNN. March 20, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  3. Peyser, Andrea (April 4, 2014). "Trespassers at 1 WTC are a wakeup call". New York Post. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  4. Messing, Philip, Frank Rosario and Bruce Golding (March 20, 2014). "Teen sneaks past guard to reach WTC spire". New York Post. Retrieved April 24, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Stepansky, Joseph & Thomas Tracy (March 20, 2014). "Daredevil teen sneaked into 1 World Trade Center". Daily News. New York. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  6. Margolin, Josh & Alyssa Newcomb (March 20, 2014). "Teen Sneaks Past Security, Climbs Atop 1 World Trade Center". ABC News. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  7. "Teen's Stunt Exposes That WTC Has No Working Surveillance Cameras". Mashable. March 20, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  8. "Weehawken teen who climbed to top of 1 World Trade Center sentenced to community service". NJ.com. Associated Press. September 3, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  9. Zeitlinger, Ron (September 22, 2014). "Weehawken teen who climbed 1 WTC charged with climbing historic water tower, source says". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  10. "World Trade Center teen busted after allegedly scaling NJ structure: report". September 23, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  11. "WTC-climbing teen daredevil surrenders to cops over newest stunts". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  12. Rosner, Elizabeth (September 6, 2017). "Daredevil teen avoids jail time for climbing skyscrapers".
  13. "Paramount Tower Apartments, New York City | 115529". Emporis. Archived from the original on September 8, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  14. Byfield, Erica (June 2, 2017). "Young World Trade Center Climber Arrested at Yet Another High-Rise in Manhattan". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  15. Milo, Paul (June 2, 2017). "N.J. daredevil teen arrested for scaling another NYC building". NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  16. The Associated Press (June 2, 2017). "World Trade Center Climber Arrested at Another High-Rise". Retrieved June 8, 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  17. "World Trade Center Climber Turns Self in After Again Scaling Skyscrapers". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  18. Godlewski, Nina (June 2, 2017). "Justin Casquejo, Instagram Sensation, Arrested For Climbing Manhattan Skyscraper, Again". International Business Times. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  19. Lubin, Byrhian (December 3, 2016). "Teenage daredevil cheats death climbing one of the world's tallest skyscrapers in stomach-churning footage". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  20. Kenneth Garger, Chad Rachman and Natalie O'Neill (November 27, 2016). "Airhead teen busted for climbing World Trade Center rises again". New York Post. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  21. Goldman, Jeff (November 28, 2016). "Daredevil N.J. teen charged in WTC stunt dangles from Central Park tower". NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  22. Wyrich, Andrew (November 28, 2016). "Weehawken teenager who scaled WTC continues to climb". The Record. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  23. Journal, Ron Zeitlinger | The Jersey (November 10, 2018). "Weehawken's skyscraper daredevil charged with Manhattan building stunt: report". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. Bureau, ABS-CBN North America News (June 6, 2017). "Fil-Am daredevil arrested, attempted to commit suicide". ABS-CBN News.
  25. Journal, Ron Zeitlinger | The Jersey (December 12, 2018). "Weehawken daredevil calls out NYPD: My rights were violated". nj.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. "Justin Casquejo Gets Plea Deal For Scaling UWS Tower". April 30, 2019.
  27. Rosenberg, Rebecca (April 29, 2019). "Young daredevil takes plea deal for latest building stunt".
  28. "5 People Arrested on Top of 72-Story Trump World Tower in NYC".
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