NYC Man Threatens to Jump from High-rise in Response to FBI Search Warrant

A New York City conman threatened to jump from the 20th-floor window of a Manhattan skyscraper, police sources said. Ian Mitchell, 35, who allegedly once posed as a relative of a wealthy Jamaican, threatened to jump as the FBI attempted to serve a search warrant.

At around 8:40 AM, Mitchell broke the window inside an apartment in the 72-story CitySpire condominium building and attempted to jump out, the sources said.

As he sat by the window, a white curtain covered his body with glass shattered around him. He appeared to be wearing black pants and a black T-shirt. Police told bystanders on the sidewalk to move down the block or enter the building.

According to sources, the NYPD Emergency Services Unit attempted to speak to and calm Mitchell down. He didn’t have any weapons, and by 1 PM, Mitchell barricaded himself inside the apartment after he got out the window.

What Happened?

The CitySpire condo was his girlfriend’s, according to police sources. She was with FBI agents, a hostage negotiation team, and police in the hallway.

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Mitchell sometimes shifted near the shattered window as glass fell to the ground below from the 31st floor. He stayed close to the ledge and talked with law enforcement officers.

Whenever he believed they were entering the apartment, he yelled to officials, “I’ll jump.”

Around 5 PM, the standoff ended when an NYPD Emergency Service Unit officer climbed down the 72-story skyscraper into Michell’s condominium.

The officer crawled down a rope from the apartment above Mitchell’s as another Emergency Service Unit cop held the rope. The officer who forced him inside the building kicked Mitchell and climbed into the apartment after him.

A team of officers and hostage negotiators from the FBI and NYPD stood outside Mitchell’s front door and talked with him before the NYPD’S breakthrough.

Following the successful operation, they removed Mitchell from the building covered in a white sheet. An ambulance took him for psychiatric evaluation in a hospital.

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The FBI was serving Michell an arrest warrant for a “white-collar crime,” according to sources. However, a spokesperson could only say, “We are performing a law enforcement operation to an ongoing investigation.”

Reason for his Search Warrant

Mitchell impersonated” Ian Matalon,” a relative of Joseph Matalon, Jamaica’s wealthy businessperson. Authorities mentioned he claimed to be an investment banker to The Post in 2019.

In 2015, the conman allegedly told three victims they could get an ownership interest in a new bar. The bar would be on West 58th Street at Hudson Hotel if they brought $33,000 for a liquor license.

Manhattan prosecutors confirmed that Mitchell had no connection to any bars at the stylish hotel and spent the cash on personal expenses.

A 63-year-old neighbor identified as Bahman said on the way up to his apartment, he had seen Mitchell in the elevator.” I live on the 40th floor, and he lives on the 31st,” Bahman said.

He continued, “We have never talked, I just see him coming and going, and he was always alone and well-dressed.”

When asked how he felt living close to Mitchell, he responded, “Of course, I’m shaken. I never knew I lived next to a criminal.” “I saw him on Sunday, he looked calm… going up and down… nothing unusual,” he added.

Another man, Behzad, said his sister lives in the CitySpire building and visited her — but he stepped out for about 20 minutes to get coffee.

“I can’t go back in,” Behzad, who is retired and worked in real estate, said. “The NYPD controls the elevator,” my sister mentioned.

They announced, “the police are here” over a loudspeaker. Don’t leave your apartment. They have control of the elevators.”

“To me, it’s the stupidest option he can take. To me, if he is a conman. You do the time when you do the crime. Nothing is more precious than life.”