Daredevil Arrested Again After Scaling UWS Crane: Prosecutor

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A young daredevil who previously claimed he was retiring from climbing skyscrapers after a 2017 arrest is facing new charges for scaling a crane at an Upper West Side high-rise development, according to a criminal complaint.

Justing Casquejo, 20, was arrested this week and charged with criminal trespassing for allegedly climbing a crane at the Waterline Square development in March, according to a criminal complaint. The West 61st Street development, which has since topped out, was 17-stories-tall at the time of Casquejo's climb.

The daredevil and two other people gained entry to the construction site without permission on the morning of March 18 and then climbed to the building's top floor in order to access a construction crane, according to a criminal complaint.

"[Casquejo] is seen taking photographs of himself and two other individuals who are with him. The defendant then grabbed on to a bar at the top of the crane with one hand and hung from said bar with his feet dangling in the air," the criminal complaint reads.

A superintendent of the building site told police that the daredevils were spotted on the crane using "EarthCam" photographs, according to the criminal complaint. The crane climb was Waterline Square's only security breach, the superintendent told investigators.

In 2017, Casquejo announced plans to retire from high-rise stunts after being arrested for trespassing at a 51-story building in Murray Hill.

The New Jersey native was released on $5,000 bail for his most recent arrest.

Screengrab via LIVE JN/YouTube.