New York City Crane Inspector Arrested

A New York City crane inspector arrested for lying.

By: Michael Stevens
Mar 20, 2008, 6:02 PM EDT

Edward Marquette, 46, was arraigned and formally released without bail Thursday on charges of falsifying business records and offering a false instrument for filing. He faces up to four years in prison.

"We will not tolerate this kind of behavior at the Department of Buildings," buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster said.

Marquette, who earns $52,283 a year as an inspector in the department's division of cranes and derricks, was arrested while being questioned Wednesday night, said Barbara Thompson, spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney.

The 20-story crane broke away Saturday from an apartment tower under construction and toppled over, killing six construction workers and a visitor in town for St. Patrick's Day.

A complaint about the crane was reported March 4 to a city hot line, and Marquette said he inspected it. It was later determined he had not.

In addition to suspending Marquette, Lancaster said, she has ordered a full audit of his inspection reports over the past six months, and also of the cranes and derricks unit.

The crane collapse caused a swath of destruction along a full city block not far the United Nations, pulverizing a four-story brownstone and damaging at least seven other buildings.

The gigantic piece of machinery toppled over when a six-ton steel collar used to secure the crane to the building came loose, plunging into another collar that acted as a major anchor. Without that support, the spindly structure came tumbling down with terrifying force.

The collapse followed weeks of widespread complaints by neighbors that the crane didn't appear safe.