Tram Tower Climber Arrested; Ex-Con Who Attacked 91-Year-Old Man Convicted

Roosevelt Island Tram Tower Climber Arrested

A masked thrill seeker who generated short-lived headlines on June 16 when he climbed the Roosevelt Island tram tower was brought down safely and promptly arrested. He has since been arraigned.

The incident began just after 7pm when 911 received a call about the mysterious figure climbing the tower, prompting multiple FDNY and NYPD units to respond.

Also at the scene was the FDNY-following Youtube channel, TheMajestirium1. While he could catch a only brief glimpse of the climber from his position at First Avenue and East 60th Street, his presence among the first responders was illuminating, as was his relocation to Second Avenue as he realized the climber had been caught and that the tram was bringing the suspect down. Seeing an NYPD Emergency Services Unit member in full climbing gear highlighted the very wide range of duties the cops have.

After the climber was taken to Weill Cornell Medical Center for observation, speculation was rampant as to whether he might be a protestor or a terrorist. The answer, predictably, proved more mundane.

Miguel Martinez, 20, of Oceanside, LI, was no more than a thrill seeker, with his mask reflecting familiarity with the ski-mask burglar style of NYC “Urban Exploration” legends, the LTV Squad.

Martinez was charged with reckless endangerment, obstruction of governmental administration, and criminal trespass. He appeared in court alone, unmasked, and was released without bail.

Ex-Con Who Attacked 91-Year-Old Man Convicted

The ex-con Christian Torres, 45, who attacked and robbed then-91-year-old Upper East Sider Hyman Silverglad in February 2024, has been convicted at trial.

On June 10, 2025, a New York State Supreme Court jury found Torres guilty on all counts, including first and second degree assault and first degree robbery.

The crime dates from Feb. 1, 2024, when at around 10:25pm Silverglad was walking home with groceries from a fruit-stand vendor located at Second Avenue and East 86th Street. As Silverglad approached First Avenue, Torres attempted to grab his wallet, shoved him to the ground, and punched him before fleeing.

Silverglad suffered five fractured ribs and a hematoma on his liver. After a week at Mount Sinai Morningside hospital, Silverglad spent nearly a month at the Amsterdam Nursing Home rehab facility.

A NY Post interview with the hospitalized Silverglad was a painful, but also inspiring, story of senior resilience.

“I cough and I’m almost dead,” Silverglad said. “I tell you, if I was young, I would run after this mother-freaker and beat the shoot out of him and kick his ass and he’ll forget being a criminal.”

Torres was arrested on Feb. 11, 2024, by Transit District 4 cops who recognized him from a Wanted flyer.

Torres, presently on Rikers Island, is expected to be sentenced on June 26, 2025.