Man may have plunged to death after arrival of police

Man may have plunged to death after arrival of police

A MAN is believed to have plunged to his death from his high rise flat just moments after police officers knocked on his door.

Kevin Frederick Williams, 46, died on Sunday morning after falling from the 12th floor of Fleet House in Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesbrough.

Witnesses said they saw a man sat on the window frame of the flat as he engaged in a verbal exchange with someone inside.

He went back into the flat before reappearing and then dangled himself from the window by his fingertips.

Moments later he fell to his death.

Yesterday, it emerged that no one else was inside the flat at the time he fell.

However, officers from Cleveland Police were outside the flat at the time, and The Northern Echo understands they were attempting to speak to Mr Williams when he made for the window.

As is normal with any case where police are present or involved when someone dies, Cleveland Police contacted watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) about the incident.

However, yesterday, the IPCC said they had looked at the case and would no longer be conducting a probe.

Instead, an investigation into what happened at the flats will be carried out by Middlesbrough CID.

Police refused to say why they had been outside the man's flat on Sunday, but said they were not treating his death as suspicious.

A witness outside the flat, who did not want to be named, said she heard the man shouting that he was going to jump.

Others said he was shouting and swearing before he fell.

An inquest into his death was opened at Teesside Coroner's Court yesterday afternoon and adjourned for further enquiries.

Anyone with information should call Cleveland Police on 01642-326326.