Two Metropolitan Police officers are being investigated for manslaughter after a man threatening to jump from a fifth-floor balcony was tasered before falling and suffering fatal injuries.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the Met were called to the address in Peckham, south London, to reports of a man shouting from a balcony.
Officers received no response from inside the flat on Rye Hill Park shortly before midnight on April 11 but received a further report of a man making threats to jump from a balcony at 1.25am the following day.
The watchdog said police forced entry to the property at around 2am and tried to persuade the man to come inside and requested a police negotiator attend the scene.
The IOPC said over the course of the next hour, some officers left the flat and two officers remained inside – with evidence indicating an officer discharged their Taser, shortly before the man fell from the balcony railing at around 3.20am.
After falling five floors to the ground, the man, who has not yet been formally identified, was transported to hospital with critical injuries. He died later that day, the watchdog added.
The police negotiator arrived at the scene just before the man fell and had not entered the flat, the IOPC said.
The two officers have been informed they are under investigation for gross negligence manslaughter, with one also being investigated for unlawful act manslaughter.
Both have been served with gross misconduct notices for potentially breaching police standards of professional behaviour, the watchdog said.
The IOPC began their investigation on April 12, with body-worn video footage being secured and reviewed and Taser downloads due to be analysed.
The watchdog said they have also made inquiries with neighbours and spoken with a witness, as well as making CCTV footage inquiries.
IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: “Our thoughts are with the man who died and we sincerely hope that he is formally identified and that his family are able to be notified.
“This was a tragic incident and we recognise that the circumstances surrounding the man’s death have understandably caused concern within the community.
“Our enquiries are still in their early stages and it’s important that we carry out a thorough, independent investigation that will be looking at the full circumstances, including the actions and decision-making of the officers who were present.
“Police officers are able to use force in the course of their duties and we will examine whether any force that was used was reasonable, appropriate and proportionate in these circumstances.
“Following the conclusion of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and we will determine whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings.”
