Department of Investigation

An inspector from the Department of Buildings was arrested today following last weekend’s fatal crane collapse for falsifying an inspection, though city officials said his actions likely did not lead to the accident.

Edward Marquette was charged with falsifying business records, a felony, after he admitted he lied on paperwork and did not make a March 4 inspection of the crane, according to the city. However, the crane was inspected after March 4, including the day before the March 15 collapse, and in a statement, Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster said “it is unlikely that a March 4 inspection would have prevented this horrific accident.”  read more »