is trying to get to the top. you can see an officer in the bucket coming down the other corner. i would believe that's the fifth avenue side of the building where the officer is. this thing just goes on. we talked with officer cambria there, the hostage negotiator and he said after you have tried to talk to him, he is to let him tire himself out, put inflatable landing devices down on the landing areas, close toast where he is, hopefully he tires himself out and this ends well because you can't force him down and there's lieutenant liability. >> he has no helmet.

so maybe he has gotten some sustenance. >> he is staying hydrated, baseball cap, no helmet. this man clearly trained knows what he is doing. jack told us on the phone, they are going to let this guy tire himself out if they have to. he has been climbing for quite some time. it's a 58-story building. he is probably about 18, 19 stories up at this point. he is moving slowly and we asked, you know, why wouldn't they just break a window and grab him and they are not going to do that for a number of reasons. but they yellow inflatable landing pads below him in case he should fall. we don't know what's going onhe went right past them so

in the city. and this is what we're doing. good evening. we are following breaking news. this man climbing up trump tower medical town 56th avenue on 56th street. he has been at this for two hours. dana tyler joins us. >> everybody is just glued to this man climb. emergency workers at one point did try to get him down by coming through a window. we saw esu officers break the glass but this climber, he moved the other way. and he went around them. >> kind of the ultimate cat and mouse game. >> yes. did you just hear also, i just heard people in the crowd go oh, no! >> right. >> looks like they cut another

a live picture we're looking at, correct? yes. so -- no, this is from earlier. okay. so earlier when he was around the fifth or sixth story this is what we were referring to when they broke at least one window to try to talk with him. you seage officer trying to reason with him. he wasn't -- you see an officer trying to reason with him. he wasn't having any of it and now he is about 19 stories above midtown high about avenue at 56th street making some kind of statement as he scales trump tower in midtown. once again this is a live picture and you can see an officer there on a bucket one of those window washer type buckets. he is around the corner. doesn't look like they have made contact just yet. he is probably waiting for the right moment. and we can't tell whether other officers are communicating with him through other windows. but this is just maddening for officers to deal with.

hostage negotiator officer just a short time ago and he says probably after trying to reason and coax and talk and convince and not getting anywhere, the best you can do is to let him wear himself out. he said it's up to him our hostage negotiator. >> this could go on for hours. >> he has all the chips. >> not that far. he is probably closer to 20 stories now. maybe. >> from the top? >> from the ground. >> it's 58-story building. if he is trying to go to the top we have quite a few hours to let him tire himself out. he is not moving very fast here and, you know, if you are at home watching, you're wondering why don't they just break the window and grab him, the retired hostage negotiator said they need to let him tire himself out and they don't want him to get injured. there would be a whole host of liability issues. so right now, we wait and watch and maybe he will change his mind as he gets more tired as the evening progresses but

whatever reason is climbing trump tower in midtown. they have shut down the roads surrounding. valerie castro is live on the ground for us a short time ago. we'll check in with her again. huge crowds are gathering. we know fifth avenue is a heavily trafficked area but a lot of pedestrians and shoppers and tourists so people are just stopping to watch. this is being beamed around i can picture people watching this together. dana, you were in the newsroom with about 50 people. >> mm-hm. >> what's that like? >> we were doing our work but we were of course every tv on. we're watching this and, of course, social media very, very busy with this. i earlier had a conversation with a man who is in a building across the street and he had a periscope live on this man, this must have been

tweeting, he said, he saw him throw a laptop, a mac laptop and a notebook down. >> the climber? >> yes. >> toss stuff down? >> that's what he said, yes. this is what the -- this man who is across the way, it was used on cbs n. so yeah, i mean, it's -- all these weird feelings. it's compelling. i did see him drink some water. heem was doing that. he was facing the officers and conversation, you know, so but again, it's just i can't imagine this. we haven't heard -- donald trump has commented. he frequently tweets. he is speaking in florida [ choking ] >> people watching this from all over the place are putting this in the political context as one more thing in the wildest political season we have seen in our lifetimes.

aspect of it. you have to wonder what is going on here what, if anything. >> there is other news besides the breaking news. the headlines of the day. first, newly released text messages are raising questions about a "bridge-gate" cover-up in the messages a staffer claims governor christie lied about the scandal during a 2013 news conference. i'm watching this with you, of window. we have seen the e -- >> it's moving. >> right. >> we have seen some of them just break and it looks like here may be they are actually trying to pull the pane.

>> how many stories above or below? >> i thought it was above. but i'm not sure how many. i think that window washing thing is like a 21 -- >> think about this as a strategy. if you remove glass that he can't suction, then you have him. right? so that would be -- >> moved before, he has moved before you know. >> but he is moving left to right. they took the entire payne so they have a bigger area to work it looks like this man has some equipment attached to him. other first responders on the scene. i think they are not going to let him tire himself out maybe go ahead and grab him at some point because this has been going on for more than two hours. >> we are keeping our camera here but just imagine, as nypd this is midtown north they have said stay away from the area. i know you've talked about

and all of this area is blocked off to street traffic as well as pedestrian traffic behind those barriers. so the resources incredible. and again, a mystery who is he. what is he -- why he doing this on this building? what does he have with him? also, we want to go -- valerie castro has been live on the ground for us throughout this entire odd incident i guess to watch? >> reporter: hearing about it on social media and facebook they saw the videos and tweets about this so they have made their way down here as you can see. there is a large crowd of people behind me.

these barricades earlier today. down the street, you can see there is an ambulance waiting. there are some other police vehicles that are surrounding the base of trump tower and we actually want to pan over to trump tower. you can see where police officers emergency crews are up in that bucket that window washing bucket. the gentleman that's climbing is around the corner from them. they are in position. i don't know if they are able to communicate other teams are doing that . >> a little trouble with the audio. we'll get to valerie in just a second. right now to the phone, joe giacolone our friend is on the line. former nypd sergeant. joe, you hear me? >> again. maurice, how are you? >> we're hanging in there. as we watch this, so what do you make of what you've seen

thinking the next step is here? >> two hours, 10 minutes they are taking windows out. it appears they are giving him less real estate upon which to climb. >> absolutely. it doesn't look like they are going to wait for him to tire out. they will probably have to remove more windows on the right. we are getting tired just watching him climb. we can imagine how difficult this we talk about the backpack of course could be supplies but it could also be a banner. we have seen that before in new york city where people climb a building and then they hang a note and considering it's the trump tower, you know, you can't probably -- you can probably speculate it has something to do with politics. they are taking their time. they are not rushing it because the police rush it and you know, he slips and falls and that's it. >> joe, what do you make of the way they have handled it so far? >> well, you know, just like

textbook. you use all the time in the world to negotiate. and like you had jack cambria on before one of the best hostages negotiators that the nypd has ever had and you have to take your time you have to talk and open that up line of communication. and you have to -- >> as we just saw, i don't know if you just saw they took out another large pane of glass. looks like three, for stories above him. that would seem to be a good move. >> yeah. that's exactly what i was saying before because this way it prevents him from going to the right. so h options now because if he goes left it's scaffolding and he has the windows above him now totally removed. and now if you notice he is now going towards the catti corner so he is going to try to go through up there. i have a feeling those windows are coming out next. >> i know, again, this is just such careful work for the esu officers. but with this vantage of two open paned windows, no panes

do they put some sort of hook, do they -- i mean, how do you get this man safely if right there? >> how concerned are you about him falling? because jack cambria told us before, you know, if something goes bad, something goes wrong, liability issues are very real here if he gets hurt or worse, you know, this could work out badly if they try to get him. how much of a concern is that? >> well, it's always a concern and the police department, you know, that you want to -- your job is to

that everyone, you know, gets home safe but you have a situation where, um, you know, he is a danger to himself. and also, all the people down below him. so the police department has to do something. i'm sure the fire department is working in collaboration with them and trying to figure out what the safest course of action to try to get this guy off the window. he has an agenda. he is not stopping. >> the police department does have a number of esu people to cover everybody in the city,

don't want to see cops tied up unnecessarily on what, you know, seems to be more than likely just nonsense. >> it looked like he just took a sip there. he seems to have all kinds of energy. he just tossed something. >> also, could you tell us about -- this makes us think of a spider-man, alain robert and not using thi equipment. how often do you see something like this? >> besides this fireman guy, this is very rare. we just hope that, you know, it doesn't encourage anybody else to try this. this is something where tying up midtown manhattan traffic at rush hour is causing a big problem and creates safety issues for the people below with all the traffic and what have you.

too, as well as several other crimes. >> i was going to ask. how serious are the charges and how much of a -- how much jail time can somebody doing for doing something like this? >> they will levee a number of misdemeanor counts on him including reckless endangerment where you put people's life at risk. they are doing in manhattan and -- he is doing this in manhattan and they will be tougher on him. remember the guy that jumped off the world trade center, too? >> right. >> but whole world watching. >> right. >> live on television in the middle of the afternoon. and so now we have some officers who are right there to his right in what looks like -- can you tell? is that an open window? i think it is. so what would you say to him right here? what kind of language would you use, joe? >> well, like i said, we want to, you know, try to remain open line of communication but you basically have to figure out how to tell him that the gig is up. he is looking up now.

side like saying no. so -- >> that what we have been noticing all afternoon. they have been in communication. he was closer. they broke the first window. we saw him real close up talking to a first responders to one of the members of f the members of the emergency service units. he has been talking to them all afternoon. if you look at the left. screen you can see that window washer bucket scaffolding someone in there now. so this man at this time seems surrounded. >> you think also just again, back to the physical strength and therefore just weariness, i mean, fatigue. it's just unbelievable how when you look at this is 21, 22 floors up at this time of a 58-story building. i mean, he is good at this. >> he has stamina, strength and power and he is shimmying there to the left. >> i keep seeing the panes shake with these suction cups.

put that inflatable yellow landing pad below him so they are being very care to feel make sure nothing happens to him. >> as well as people who are on the ground again the midtown area 725 fifth avenue and 56th street just completely blocked off. people standing watching. everything at a standstill. >> joe, he looks like he just moved off to the left. he is taking stock of where he is. >> yes. >> what do you do now? >> yeah. no, like i said, they will have the scaffolding on the left, i think we'll see it parallel whatever he is doing. so that he can't go around the

you to, cat and mouse right now. >> yes. >> also, joe, isn't it just back to the negotiating strength and everything you've all tried, of family members or, you know, just whatever is on his mind that could be personal. and, of course, we know it could be something very public because this is the trump the patience that the negotiator has to have is such a special skill. one of the things about bringing someone into the conversation like a parent or a wife or something like that is that if he is doing this because he got into a fight with somebody, you have to be very careful who you put in contact with him. so i think they are going to just be very careful with that right now and just try to get that ro pour, that relationship between the police and him and try to convince him it's in everyone's best interests and say okay you made your point,

everybody is going to know who you are. >> would they also mention charges before, is that something they get into in the high stakes, pardon the pun, of what he is doing? >> that might be viewed as a threat. >> correct, okay. >> but right now it's just i think it's goes going to be all about his safety and the safety of the officers and the people below him. >> we don't kn is. he has not been identified. he looks to be a fairly young man, clearly in shape and knows what he is doing here not wearing a helmet, rarely a baseball cap. we have seen the esu officers wearing helmets out there. he has a backpack. we don't know what's in that backpack at this time. he is surrounded. and we have been watching for, gosh, 1 1/2 hours. >> he is getting to the left corner. i think you have our air on where you are. >> yes. >> what do you expect to happen here?

>> well, yeah. he is getting close to the cops on the scaffold. he might not even know that they're there. he looks like -- so he is looking. i think he doesn't realize that the cops are right there next to him. so this is going to be an interesting few minutes as this develops. >> is the big mattress type airbag -- no, we're seeing now just above the banner, you can see an officer scaffolding. pretty close there. >> looks like they're talking. >> yes. i think he is finally engaging him now. now, he is telling him he needs to -- if you notice that they are trying to do it looks like distract him on the right and maybe the guy on the left will be able to do something. but he is still too far away for, you know, to try to reach out and grab him and looks like that officer in the scaffolding is by himself, too. so i don't know if he would go out and grab him. >> right. would you -- it would seem he needs backup. >> but maybe he is

that they probably planned on that this wasn't going to be -- this was just going to be like a block so to speak to prevent him from going on the other side of the building. >> you can see the two full windows to this climber's right -- >> there is another officer with him in the bucket. >> there you go. >> better view of the bucket. so it looks like this man's, you know, climbing time is going to be over hopefully pretty soon because again, we have been watching for quite some time. that officer there in the bucket hopefully he is going to give up. >> so they have him boxed in, joe. what's the next move? >> keep playing chess. >> a little too far from both the officers up on the top and on the bottom. if you notice before there was a -- one of the supervisors wearing the white shirt was engaging with him and making some hand gestures. they have were giving him directions about what they think he should do. he now is talking to the

going to come to a fast resolution. you know, it probably it is in his best interests to keep on going up so he can go inside that big window. go inside there. that's his best option because even trying to get into the scaffolding on the other side would be really too dangerous of a move to try to get over there. >> joe, you've seen a lot in your career. have you seen anything like this? >> no. i haven't seen anything like this. but like i said, we had the fireman guy a few times in the city that would time to time. but not with this much fanfare. so this is something, um, you know, a first for everyone to see but like i said, in policing you never say never, you never say always. this is new york city. >> do we know anything about his ascent, how it began on the ground, on what floor? do we know that, joe? >> no, i haven't heard anything about where it started. but like i said, he made it a

i would have made it. >> do you -- joe, would you fault building security at some point? you know, this man's -- >> i mean, it's tough for security because if it happens on the outside, if he was able gain access from inside the building then we could discuss that. but climbing outside on the building, you can't do much at that point. so we'll find out i guess as the investigation goes on exactly where he made his >> here he is in this position, um, two, three floors from these officers. >> they are dropping a line to him.

>> i get what you're saying. you have to make sure the rescuer can help the person so he is in a safe place, as well. >> that's attached to a pillar ar something in the building that's solid. >> yeah. >> so it looks like they have engaged him. the question is, is he going to receive it? we have this for you. you can come along peacefully pass it down to him now. he is now a couple of feet down. so you know, hopefully, like i said, he made his point. maybe that's the message. he went right past first responders. could he climb past them or would they just grab him at this point? >> well, yeah. i mean, at this point, he is not going higher than that.

out too if he is thinking about, you know, doing that. so i think they have that in mind you notice he went to that section is climbing up there but he is not going to be able to get past those officers there. >> yeah. it looks like they are boxing him in and looking to bring this thing to an end as best you can tell, joe. >> yes. it looks like this is -- once he gets those other two floors, that this is going to end. hopefully they are that little harness strap. >> we see it. >> yeah. locks himself in and when they go to pull him in, that it's just, you know, seamless and nobody is kicking and screaming. coming into the window. >> can you help us understand the gear that the officers are wearing? i see helmets that look like they have cameras on there. what's that? >> yeah. that's just a heavy duty equipment like construction grade, you know, so that it can hold definitely more than two persons' body weight and it's just a safety strap and like i said they usually tie

else or they have a number of cops holding ton it which i probably doubt that. they would look for something within side the structure to be able to tie that thing off. >> they are making what looks like an offering with the line. how do you think he would -- how he would express it? >> you could say, basically, you know, it's like the old bugs bunny, you're not going to go further than t >> they are lowering it. obviously -- >> hope he takes it. >> it does, like, they are within a distance they could hear each other and talk. he hasn't used that extra one, right, that extra suction cup? i mean, so prepared. >> it looks like -- >> oh. >> he is tying himself n majoring sure -- he has him parallel to each other. hopefully he is going to use that as histamines. if you notice now he is looking at i guess they are a

so the bucket is coming up. the officers are reaching out. they are holding the officer in. he is clearly tethered and anchored to the building. >> and he's the climber is at this point -- no, he is just doing his continuing his climbing. it appears rejecting the officer's rope and safety hook. >> to viewers just tuning in wondering what on earth is going on, you know what? we have been wondering, the climber trump tower going up the side of the building. the south side of the building fifth avenue at 56th street. nypd officers and emergency services units on the scene taking out windows as you can see. using a line. using words. using everything in the arsenal to try to coax him into ending this thing peacefully because, um, it's just gone on quite frankly too long. why he is doing it, what he is

but he has gotten the attention of pretty much the whole world and he is doing this thing right now. >> shut down traffic at the busiest time of day for new yorkers. >> there's a lot of unhappy people, i can tell you that. >> i can understand that. all the detours and the pedestrian traffic, too, is barricaded. 58-story building here trump tower. we believe he is past the 21st maybe 22nd 23rd floor point. he is not taking that line from police. >> no. >> the focus of his climbing, and don't forget how high up he is. >> if you are just tuning in there's a police bucket coming down the left side. you are, the line. there are two officers in one of those window washer type units. they are boxing him in. officers to the left and

>> they are prepared. if he false they have an inflatable pad below him. he has no helmet. they are offering the line with the carbiner attached. this man isn't taking it. he has been communicating but hasn't been listening to them and >> joe, what do you make of it? >> if they are going to reach out and try to you will him in, they have to wait until he gets a little higher. the police officers are calm and they realize what's going on and trying to avoid them.