Man, 67, who threatened to jump out of 13th floor Tampines HDB flat, later arrested for drug offences

A 67-year-old man sat on the windowsill of a 13th floor HDB flat at Tampines Avenue 9 for nearly three hours on Jan. 9.

He reportedly threatened to jump off, according to Shin Min Daily News.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police said they received a call for assistance at around 11:55am.

When they arrived, they discovered that he had locked himself in the unit.

They assessed that the man "might pose a danger to himself".

Officers were subsequently deployed from the Special Operations Command, Crisis Negotiation Unit, and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

The man was later rescued and arrested for suspected drug-related offences, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said.

Rescue effort

Neighbours said the man sat on the windowsill for nearly three hours, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

He apparently threatened to jump off.

Upon arrival, officers from SCDF deployed a safety life air pack — an inflatable air cushion meant to help break a fall — as a precautionary measure.

Nets were also deployed, while rescuers from the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) — SCDF's elite force — rappelled down from the 15th floor to rescue the men.

No injuries were reported.

Arrested for drug offences

One 15th floor resident said SCDF personnel came to his house, explaining that it was an emergency.

They cast a net from his window and rappelled down to the unit where the elderly man had locked himself in, he said.

At 3:35pm, police officers managed to gain entry into the unit.

Neighbours saw offices sawing open the door, according to Shin Min.

The police then arrested the man for suspected drug-related offences.

Investigations by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) are ongoing.

Top image from Shin Min Daily News and Google Maps