Local 'Rooftopper' Arrested After Scaling City Skyscrapers
James McNally, a thrill seeker who gets his kicks by scaling the city’s tallest buildings and posting his exploits on social media, has been hit with criminal charges for two of his recent climbs.
The NYPD slapped James with charges of reckless endangerment and criminal trespass after he climbed to the top of the FiDi skyscraper at 70 Pine St in September, DNA Info reports.
James was also arrested and hit with the same charges following his ascent of One57 last September.
So-called “rooftopping” has developed a niche following over the last few years, as social media provided an audience for adventurous souls looking for a challenge.
The practice has come under increased scrutiny in NYC, however, after a 20-year-old climber fell to his death in December, and a 17-year-old climber recently scaled 460 Park.
For his part, James says the arrests won’t stop him from pursuing his passion, although at this point he’s climbed most of the city’s tallest buildings aside from One World Trade and the Empire State Building. [DNA]
