Mar 21, 2008 12:30 am US/Eastern
Inspector Arrested In Crane Collapse Investigation
Officials: Worker Failed To Visit Site, Filed False Paperwork
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Edward Marquette was arrested for falsifying records that said he inspected the site of Manhattan's deadly crane collapse when he never went to make the inspection in the first place.
CBS
A New York City buildings inspector was arrested after apparently falsifying paperwork for an inspection of the site of Saturday's deadly crane collapse just days before it happened, CBS 2 has learned.
The inspector, identified as Edward Marquette, received word to visit the site on March 4 after someone called 311 and complained that the site appeared unsafe, officials announced during a Thursday afternoon news conference.
But he never went and instead filed false paperwork.
Marquette, who had been working as an inspector since 2001, is charged with falsifying business records and offering a false instrument for filing, both felonies. If convicted, he faces up to four years in prison.
"We will not tolerate this kind of behavior at the department of buildings," said Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster, who offered a warning to other building inspectors. "If you serve on the front lines and you're ensuring public safety do not engage in misconduct because it will not be tolerated."
Officials would not say that Marquette's action led to the collapse, however.
Lancaster suspended Marquette and ordered re-inspection of all of his jobs from the last six months, as well as full audits.
Marquette, 46, was arraigned on criminal charges in state Supreme Court and released without bail.
Meanwhile, two of the seven victims were laid to rest Thursday. The funeral for Brad Cohen, 54, of Farmingdale, was held in Woodbury at noon. New York City resident Anthon Mazza, 45, was laid to rest at Blessed Sacrament Church in Staten Island on Thursday morning.
Nine buildings at the site of the collapse remain vacated.
Stay with wcbstv.com and CBS 2 for the latest in this developing story.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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