CNN
By Mark Morales, CNN
(CNN) — A man who managed to slip past tight security at 30 Rockefeller Center and approached “Today” show co-host Craig Melvin was taken into custody Thursday morning, according to NBC News and a law enforcement official.
The person entered an unauthorized area in a vestibule near Studio 1A and approached Melvin, who alerted security, NBC’s “Today” show said in a statement.
“The individual was detained and taken into custody by law enforcement without further incident. There was no altercation, and no one was injured,” the statement said.
A law enforcement official told CNN the man allegedly lunged at Melvin and hurled a racial slur during the encounter.
Police identified the man as Andrew Truelove, 41, from Manhattan, according to an NYPD spokesman. He’s facing charges of burglary, menacing, criminal trespass and harassment — all as hate crimes — stemming from the incident, the spokesman said.
It is not yet known if Truelove has an attorney representing him in this “Today” show incident.
CNN has reached out to an attorney who represented Truelove in the past.
A few hours after the incident, Melvin thanked viewers for their concern and noted he was “just fine” in an Instagram post Thursday evening.
“I’ve heard from so many of you over the last few hours,” Melvin’s post said. “I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning.”
A uniformed officer assigned to 30 Rockefeller Center was alerted to a disorderly individual inside the building at approximately 8:57 a.m. and placed the person in custody without incident, according to the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. No injuries were reported, and the investigation remains active and ongoing, the NYPD said.
The man was seen entering the lobby and passing through the gold doors into a staircase just before 9 a.m., a law enforcement official told CNN. He encountered Melvin in the staircase, and the two had a verbal exchange lasting at most about 10 seconds, the official said.
Melvin followed the man as he tried to walk out of the stairwell and alerted security, who grabbed him on the first floor, the official said. Security then notified an NYPD detail stationed outside 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and the man was taken into custody, the official said.
Investigators believe the man was initially looking for Al Roker before the encounter with Melvin, the official said.
Investigators are trying to determine how the man was able to breach the secured area and are combing through surveillance footage. They are also reviewing body-worn camera footage from the arresting officers, the official said.
“TODAY is cooperating fully with law enforcement as they investigate the matter,” NBC said in its statement. “NBC and TODAY take the safety and security of our employees, talent, staff and guests extremely seriously. We are reviewing the incident and our security protocols and remain committed to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone who works at and visits our studios.”
Several NBC employees who spoke with CNN said they were shocked by the breach, given