Two men, aged 52 and 68, climbed out of the window of a 12th-storey Jurong West flat to evade Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) officers who showed up at the unit. One of the men climbed back in, while the other stood on the ledge for three hours during a stand-off before going back into the unit.
Background
The incident occurred at about 6:50 am on 26 September at Block 967B Jurong West Street 93. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) deployed two safety air cushions, and rescuers from the Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) were on standby as a precautionary measure. Lianhe Zaobao reported that the DART rescuers were prepared to deploy a safety net to carry out a rescue.
Safety air cushions deployed
SCDF told Fathership that they received a call for assistance at the block at 6:55 am on Thursday. Upon arrival, a person was seen standing outside the window ledge of a kitchen in a 12th-floor unit. The area under the unit was cordoned off, and a crowd had gathered on the ground after some time.
Man appeared to be smoking at one point
According to an eyewitness who spoke to Zaobao, the man on the ledge appeared to be in his 70s and was seen smoking at one point while standing on the ledge. He was also seen gesticulating. Police officers managed to gain entry into the unit at about 10:15 am, and no injuries were reported.
Crisis Negotiation Unit officers on scene
As it was assessed that the men might pose a danger to themselves, officers from the Special Operations Command and Crisis Negotiation Unit responded to the incident. The two men had locked themselves in the residential unit. The two men were subsequently arrested for suspected drug-related offences, police said. Investigations by CNB into the suspected drug-related offences are ongoing. One person was conveyed to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.
Related incidents
This incident is reminiscent of a previous case where a 31-year-old man survived after jumping from a 15th-storey window of a Jurong West flat. In another event, two men climbed out to an air-conditioner ledge to escape from a fire suspected to be caused by a PMD on the fifth storey of Block 978 Jurong West Street 93. These incidents highlight the recurring nature of high-rise emergencies in the area.
