Drunken Commodities Broker Attempts to Set WTC Elevator on Fire in Escape Effort

Ryan Brinkerhoff has a curious way to dealing with being stuck in an elevator. When he found himself unable to get out of the 40th floor of 7 World Trade Center, he decided the best course of action was to spray the interior of the elevator with cleaning fluid and lighting it on fire. The automatic system then forced the elevator to the bottom floor where he was promptly arrested.

It appears that arson seemed a much better option than the elevator phone or the alarm button.

Colleagues say that Brinkeroff was “horribly intoxicated” when he tried to navigate the elevators to the 34th floor where his firm was located.

The 24-year-old broker reportedly has a MySpace with the following self-description: “Raving. Mohawk. Lunatic.” No puffery there.

For the full story, click here.