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Escape Artist Flees UN Compound By Diving Into East River
By
Scott Heins
Published May 8, 2016
Modified May 8, 2016
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By
Scott Heins
Published May 8, 2016
Modified May 8, 2016
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The search is on for an unidentified man who scaled a fence at the United Nations building Saturday morning at dawn, triggered an alarm, evaded security officers, evaded police officers, and escaped by leaping into the East River.
The break-in took place at roughly 6 a.m. yesterday, when the man reached the UN compound's North Lawn building. There, the Daily News reports that he was grabbed by two security officers, but managed to break free and leap three stories down from a promenade onto the FDR Drive. Sources told ABC that the man had been "emotionally disturbed."
UN officials called 911 at roughly 7:30 a.m., but the man proved too quick for officers on the FDR. Police told the tabloid he leapt into the river at East 42nd Street, and despite hours spent combing the waters, NYPD Harbor and Fire Department vehicles did not recover his body. The trespasser is still at large, nowhere to be found.
A backpack left behind at the UN compound reportedly contained paperwork suggesting the man had recently been let out of prison. An NYPD spokesperson confirmed that the man is still at large.
Tagged
Daniel Ocean
Jason Bourne
trespassing
UN Building
Scott Heins
Scott Heins is a freelance photo and video journalist based in New York City, and a frequent contributor to Gothamist + WNYC. His work often centers around labor rights, housing, and policing. In 2018-2019 he traveled to four states while covering a wave of public school teachers strikes, with work featured in The New York Times, The Intercept, Getty Images, Splinter, and Bloomberg Photos. Scott is a dues-paying member of the National Writers Union's Freelance Solidarity Project.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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