Dramatic All Day High-Rise Midtown Standoff Ends With Arrest

MIDTOWN, NY — A dramatic eight-hour long standoff ended Wednesday afternoon when a man who spent the day threatening to jump from a 31st floor window, after the FBI arrived for a search, was arrested by a NYPD agent swinging in from the broken window, according to officials.

Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell shared a video of the dramatic rescue by NYPD Emergency Service Unit Detective James Tobin, who rappelled from the floor above to secure Ian Mitchell, the man who for hours sat on the edge of a broken window claiming he would jump, according to officials and reports.

Mitchell, 35, was then taken to Bellevue Hospital for evaluation, according to the Daily News.

"Another example of courage and heroism from your NYPD," Sewell wrote.

One foot out the 31st floor of a high rise in New York City and members of the elite Emergency Service Unit responded there and they showed patience, care, commitment,” said NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey in a press conference Wednesday evening. “They didn’t know what that man was thinking, but ESU made a decision that nothing was going to happen to that man today and they kept their word.”

"What they did today was beyond brave," Maddery said of the ESU.

The Emergency Service Unit rises and rappels to the challenges across this city, they are everything that we need them to be when needed and today was no exception.

Another example of courage and heroism from your NYPD. pic.twitter.com/MkSPsrgy9d
— Commissioner Sewell (@NYPDPC) March 22, 2023

The FBI arrived at the apartment inside the 72-story CitySpire building on West 56th Street and Seventh Avenue about 8:40 a.m to serve a warrant. Source told the Daily News that the search was related to financial fraud.

Mitchell has a history of past accusations of grand larceny and fraud amounting to at least $100,000, according to the Daily News, including an open bench warrant for his arrest.

Mitchell was once accused of posing as an investment-banker relative of a wealthy Jamaican family in 2015 and accepting money from unsuspecting people with the promise of big returns on various investments, according to the Post.

Video from Wednesday shows Mitchell's legs dangling out of a window and a crowd of police and pedestrians gathered on the street.

Mayor Adams even came to the scene to assess the situation and talk with NYPD and law enforcement.

“The NYPD is patient. They are doing their job. That’s why they are the finest,” Mayor Eric Adams told reporters according to the Daily News. “They are patient. Our hostage negotiation team is the best in the business and we are going to do everything possible to bring this to a conclusion.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources to help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-273-8255. Its website offers services including a live chat.