UPDATE: Police Release Bodycam Footage of Empire State Building Climbers Arrest

On Wednesday afternoon, a Russian couple were arrested and taken into custody after climbing to the top of the Empire State Building in New York City.

If you missed it, here’s our original report on their dangerous stunt, which doubled as an engagement proposal:

Dangerous Proposal? Couple ARRESTED After Climbing to Top of Empire State Building

Perhaps the idea sounded romantic to the couple.

But, in reality, their daredevil stunt endangered law enforcement by forcing them to risk their own lives climbing the tower to arrest them.

Now, the New York Police Department has released bodycam footage of the moment one of the climbers, Angelina Nikolau, was taken into custody on the tower.

Watch it here:

Empire State Building climbers' arrest caught on NYPD body cam. https://t.co/8FbfKfvrzW

🎥: NYPD pic.twitter.com/QUP1LnVUVt

— TMZ (@TMZ) July 1, 2026

Nikolau’s now-fiancé Ivan Kuznetsov was also arrested on top of the tower.

CBS News detailed the charges they are facing:

The two people arrested for climbing New York City’s Empire State Building where they apparently got engaged Wednesday afternoon have been identified as Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, and Angelina Nikolau, 33.

They live in East Orange, N.J. but are originally from Russia, sources said.

Kuznetsov’s social media page identifies him as Ivan Beerkus.

They have each been charged with burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, violation of local law, possession of burglar’s tools, criminal tampering, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, according to sources.

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The two have a history of conducting similar stunts, climbing tall buildings without ropes or other safety equipment. They were previously featured in a documentary about climbing Malaysia’s Merdeka 118 Tower, which is 2,227 feet tall.

The couple managed to make their way all the way to the top of the Empire State Building’s transmission tower, which provides radio and television signals to local stations.

Climbing the tower while it is powered up and transmitting poses particular hazards. There was a possibility of being exposed to radio waves and the Empire State Building shut down the antenna, a source familiar with the matter told CBS News New York.

Here’s some additional footage of the couple being taken into custody at the police department:

BREAKING: The two people who scaled the Empire State Building with a marriage proposal banner have been ARRESTED and transferred out of Midtown South Precinct with charges.

Arrested:

Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, NJ
Angelina Nikolau, 33, NJ

Charges for both:

Burglary, Reckless… pic.twitter.com/rid2bh9QDn

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) July 1, 2026