UPDATED August 11, 5:17 p.m. ET
The identity of the climber who scaled Trump Tower Wednesday has been revealed as 19-year-old Michael Joseph Ryan from Great Falls, Va. reported the New York Daily News. Ryan was previously identified as "Steve" because he was carrying a fake ID with the name "Stephen Rogata" at the time of the climb police sources said reported the New York Daily News.
See original story below.
A man climbed Trump Tower, belonging to GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, Wednesday afternoon in New York City.
The climber, only identified as "Steve" from Virginia, wearing a harness and a bookbag, was first spotted by police at about 3:40 p.m. police told the New York Times. Witnesses said the man started climbing the 58-story building using four of five suction cups from a roof garden accessible to the public as Mashablereported.
Livestream of the incredible scaling feat took a turn for the dramatic when the climber dropped one of four suction cups he was using before getting it again.
.@NYPDSpecialops & emergency crews on scene at 725 5th Ave, Man. for man climbing bldg. Expect heavy traffic in area pic.twitter.com/hALketFec7
The climber looked momentarily trapped when NYPD Emergency Services unit watched from two floors above but he then moved to turn the corner of the building. After moving the police broke the glass window above him with large pieces of glass visibly falling stories below.
Soon enough people were seen coming down the side of the building in a scaffolding. When the people in the scaffolding got as close as two stories above the climber he was seen waving them off.
Two airbags were later seen being inflated below as the climber continued to move to the other side of the building.
Airbags have been deployed in case the climber falls. pic.twitter.com/TpuWQRNBJV
In what may be a final attempt to stop the climber police, as of 6:00 p.m. ET are trying to break the window of the 21st floor as the climber is on the move two stories below. There are emergency service unit workers waiting in the scaffolding to the left of the building should the climber try to head that way.
ABC News reported a NYPD official as saying, "This is clearly a stunt guy. The guy doesn't appear to be here to do anything evil." Police would later tell ABC News that the climber had "leaflets" of which police had a copy adding that the climb was an act of "self-promotion."
Trump, who wasn't in the building at the time, has responded to the situation releasing a statement via Trump Organization EVP Michael Cohen reported ABC:
After more than two and a half hours police finally grabbed the climber once he was close enough at 6:34 p.m. ET.
An unconfirmed video posted by the climber on YouTube yesterday surfaced shortly after he was caught explaining why he climbed Trump Tower. "The reason I climbed your tower was to get your attention," he said in the video saying he wanted a "private audience" with Trump. He ended the video by encouraging viewers to vote for Trump.
Police told ABC News the video was being investigated and that the climber could face trespassing and reckless endangerment charges.
Before the man's intentions were made know the internet had some ideas:
To the dude climbing #Trump Tower the #Pokemon up there are the same as the ones on the ground man, I swear! pic.twitter.com/FKdXWeUxqc
BREAKING: Man who is scaling Trump Tower right now has just been identified. pic.twitter.com/Fs4BDf94EH
You can watch the full daredevil climb below.
