The New York Police Department has released body camera footage from the Empire State Building’s mooring mast and spire platform, showing the moment daredevils Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov were arrested for climbing the structure’s antenna on Wednesday, July 1.
The Russian natives, who now reside in New Jersey, unfurled a banner at the summit that read: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
Highlights
- NYPD bodycam footage captures the dramatic arrest of daredevils Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov after their illegal climb of the Empire State Building’s antenna.
- The pair, who allegedly hid inside the building overnight, unfurled a banner at the summit and even got engaged during their descent.
- They now face multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including burglary and reckless endangerment.
On their way down, Kuznetsov proposed to Nikolau, who said yes. The couple celebrated the moment with an embrace and a kiss.
They now face multiple felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with the stunt, with one of them carrying a maximum prison sentence of seven years.
NYPD bodycam footage shows the moment officers detained Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov at the Empire State Building
Image credits: angela_nikolau
The New York Police Department’s Emergency Service Unit carried out Nikolau and Kuznetsov’s arrest, according to Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
“God bless these officers,” she wrote on social media alongside the video of the operation.
Image credits: angela_nikolau
The clip shows several policemen ascending a metal staircase on the exterior of the Empire State Building to reach the couple, who were on their way down from the antenna.
Nikolau appears first in the footage, and she is asked whether she speaks English and if she will cooperate.
Kuznetsov gets the same treatment when he reaches the officers as captured in the video.
Image credits: angela_nikolau
The daredevils, notably, appeared in Netflix’s 2024 documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.
They hovered at the top of the Empire State Building for 30 minutes between 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Before their arrest, Nikolau managed to show off the diamond ring from Kuznetsov on her Instagram story.
Her other updates on the social media platform from the day included a link to stream their stunt live.
The daredevils were released after their court appearance the following day
Nikolau and Kuznetsov were arraigned on Tuesday at a Manhattan criminal court, where they appeared somewhat anxious as they were formally charged with burglary, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment.
The reckless endangerment charge is a Class D felony in New York, which carries a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison.
They were also slapped with misdemeanor counts for possession of burglary tools, trespass, and criminal tampering.
Image credits: thevilething
Image credits: Getty/New York Daily News
According to law enforcement sources cited by The New York Post, the couple bought tickets at the Empire State Building on Tuesday at around 9 p.m. and then hid inside the building overnight.
A security camera video showed them emerging from a hatch on the 102nd floor at roughly 5 a.m. the next day, the sources said.
Kuznetsov was seen using tools to loosen brackets for metal cables stretching across a stairwell, which they then allegedly entered.
What happened next was televised on several networks for the world to see.
Image credits: angela_nikolau
The stunt reportedly caused $2,000 in property damage; however, according to an Empire State Building spokesperson, no tenants, visitors, or observation deck guests were harmed.
The pair’s attorney, Jason Krinsky, used this detail to argue they were being overcharged, but to no avail.
Image credits: New York Daily News
Nikolau and Kuznetsov were released after their hearing, as none of the charges against them carried a violent classification.
The prosecutors, however, successfully sought to have their release supervised.
The couple was seen holding hands and smiling broadly as they walked out of the court.
Netizens have voiced concerns about the Empire State Building’s security following the stunt
“Next time maybe someone will do this for reasons other than kicks,” one said.
“The couple somehow gained access to the building’s 102nd, 103rd, and 104th floors, all of which require a key card swipe and are restricted. This is concerning,” added another.
Image credits: New York Daily News
“The flag they unfurled was clearly political. They could have had a risky motive,” remarked a third.
“Imagine if they had explosives. This raises many, many questions,” said a fifth.
Image credits: New York Daily News
This wasn’t the first time someone climbed the antenna of the Empire State Building illegally.
French urban climber Alain Robert, also known as “French Spiderman,” was arrested for the same reason in 1994.
Angela Nikolau and Ivan Kuznetsov’s next court appearance is set for August 24.
Social media kept buzzing over Nikolau and Kuznetsov'v stunt
