Metro

NYC man threatens to jump from high-rise window after FBI brings search warrant

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

Ian Mitchell, 35 — who authorities say launched the shady scheme back in 2015 — broke the window inside an apartment within the 72-story CitySpire condominium building and attempted to climb out around 8:40 a.m., the sources said.

Video from the scene shows Mitchell with his legs dangling from the window as people stand outside watching and filming.

One photo shows his upper body covered in a white curtain or sheet as he sits in the window frame, with the glass clearly shattered around him. He appears to be wearing a black T-shirt and black pants.

Police can be heard telling bystanders on the sidewalk to either get inside the building or move down the block.

The NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit responded and was attempting to speak with the man, according to the sources. He did not have any known weapons in his possession.

Jumper Ian Mitchell talking to FBI/NYPD negotiators from the ledge of his West 56th Street apartment. Twitter/@ImMeme0
Mitchell broke the window inside an apartment within the 72-story CitySpire condominium building.

Hours later, by around 1 p.m., Mitchell had gotten out of the window and was back in the apartment, but had barricaded himself inside. 

Police sources told The Post the CitySprire condo belongs to Mitchell’s girlfriend — who was in the hallway along with FBI, police and a hostage negotiation team.

Mitchell reportedly was talking with law enforcement but staying close to the ledge. Glass fell from the 31st floor to the ground below every time he moved near the shattered window.

The barricaded man repeatedly told officials, “I’ll jump” each time he thought they were moving in on the apartment.

Mitchell attempted to climb out of his building around 8:40 a.m.

By around 2 p.m., Mayor Eric Adams had arrived.

“The NYPD is patient. They are doing their job. That’s why they are the Finest,” Hizzoner said. “They are patient. Our hostage negotiation team is the best in the business and we are going to do everything possible to bring this to a conclusion.”

The standoff finally ended around 5 p.m. when an NYPD Emergency Service Unit officer rappelled down the outside of the 72-story skyscraper and climbed into the suicidal man’s condominium.

The stealthy officer crawled down a rope from the apartment above Mitchell’s 31st-floor home.

Ian Mitchell allegedly once posed as the scion of a wealthy Jamaican family. Steven Hirsch

Another ESU cop held the rope steady as the descending officer went down the building and leaped through the already broken window, where Mitchell was dangling on the ledge.

The officer kicked the surprised man, forcing him inside, before climbing into the apartment after him.

A team of hostage negotiators and officers from the NYPD and FBI were stationed just outside Mitchell’s front door and had been talking with him in the hours before the NYPD’s breakthrough.

Mitchell was ushered out of the building covered in a white sheet. He was put in an ambulance and taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

Sources said the FBI was serving an arrest warrant for a “white-collar crime,” but a spokesman would only confirm that “we are conducting a law enforcement operation pursuant to an ongoing investigation.”

Mitchell passed himself off as “Ian Matalon,” a relative of wealthy Jamaican businessman Joseph Matalon, and claimed to be an investment banker, authorities told The Post in 2019.

In 2015, the dapper crook allegedly told three victims, including an Air Force veteran, that they could have an ownership interest in a new bar at the Hudson Hotel on West 58th Street if they ponied up $33,000 for a liquor license.

But Mitchell had no connection to any of the bars at the swank hotel and blew the cash on personal expenses, according to Manhattan prosecutors.

Mitchell is seen with his legs dangling from the window. Twitter/@ImMeme0
Police told bystanders to either get inside the building or move down the block. Faisal Ahmed

The Air Force veteran, who asked that The Post withhold his name, handed over $15,000, the bulk of his life savings.

Mitchell’s most lucrative target was businessman Humberto Romero, of Yellowstone Medical Management Inc., whom authorities say he bilked out of more than $158,000 starting in 2016.

Mitchell told Romero that he ran a multimillion-dollar hedge fund called INC Capital and promised him a handsome return if he invested in the bogus company and other ventures.

“Ian discussed many times when we were together that he had clients that invested in the millions,” Romero, 45, wrote in an affidavit obtained by The Post at the time. “He was very persuasive.”

A close-up view of where Ian Mitchell threatened to jump. Citizen

When Romero tried to pull out his money, Mitchell went dark. A background check revealed his real name and that the hedge fund never existed, so Romero called cops.

Suffolk County prosecutors say Mitchell spent Romero’s cash on student loans, credit cards, gym fees and a car lease.

His lawyer, Todd Spodek, told The Post at the time that “Mr. Mitchell has taken responsibility and has tried to make good on his financial commitments.”

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Mitchell has “two open matters” with the agency and a judge issued a bench warrant after he failed to appear in court on Jan. 31, 2020.

The area where Mitchell climbed out the window at 150 W. 56th St. Seth Gottfried

A neighbor who identified himself as Bahman, 63, said he has seen Mitchell in the elevator on the way up to his own residence.

“He lives on the 31st [floor]. I live on the 40th,” Bahman said. “I see him sometimes in the elevator going up and down. I’ve never spoken to him. I just see him coming and going.”

“He was alone all the time” and always well-dressed, Bahman said. 

“Of course, I’m shaken. I didn’t know I live next to a criminal,” he added. “I saw him on Sunday. He looked relaxed … going up and down … nothing out of the ordinary.”

Officials gather outside the high-rise for which the search warrant was issued. Seth Gottfried
An overhead view of 72-story CitySpire, the building at the center of the investigation. Google Earth

Another man who identified himself as Behzad, 69, said his sister lives in the CitySpire building and he was visiting her — but he had stepped out for about 20 minutes to buy coffee.

“I’m not allowed to go back in,” said Behzad, who is retired and worked in real estate. “The elevator is under the control of the NYPD. My sister said they announced over the loudspeaker that the police are here — don’t get out of your apartment. They are in charge of the elevators.”

“I’m not that surprised,” he added. “To me, it’s the stupidest thing he can do. To me, if he is a conman … you do the crime, do the time … Nothing is more valuable than life.”

Additional reporting by Ben Feuerherd and Elizabeth Rosner