A man who fell 15 storeys from a balcony of a public housing building as London police attempted to take him into custody, has died from his injuries.
Officers with the London Police Service were called to the high-rise at 85 Walnut St. in regard to a man in distress around 11:15 p.m. on May 5. According to police, the door to the 15th-floor unit where the 27-year-old man was inside was barricaded when officers arrived. They attempted to talk to the man in an effort to apprehend him under the Mental Health Act, but a short time later, the man fell from the balcony.
The province's Special Investigation Unit (SIU), which continues to investigate the incident, confirmed to Blackburn News that the man died in hospital three days later on May 8.
Multiple media outlets have identified the man as Caleb Tubila Njoko, a young Franco-Ontarian from London.
Njoko's parents recently told ONFR+, a news outlet for Francophone Ontarians, that they were the ones who called 911, hoping police would be able to help their son, who had become distressed. They told ONFR+ that their son was likely afraid of the police due to an encounter with London police officers the week before.
His mother described Njoko, who was born in Toronto, as a young, athletic "intelligent man who had a hard head" and a cousin told ONFR+ that "he was generous and determined."
Njoko's prior run-in with London police occured on April 28. London police said a man attempted to steal a pizza delivery vehicle that was left running at 415 Hamilton Road. The theft was interrupted by the driver who confronted the would-be thief. Following a confrontation, the man fled the scene.
Njoko was identified as a suspect arrested by London police officers a short time later. Police said he was taken to hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries, which were allegedly the result of the confrontation with the delivery driver. Njoko was facing charges of attempting to commit a dual procedure offence and obstructing a peace officer.
The 27-year-old also had prior convictions for assault and he was given a 10-year ban on carrying a weapon. He also served an 18-month probation sentence.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by the Toronto Congolese community, which has raised almost $5,000.
The SIU investigates all cases involving police that result in death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault.
-With files from Scott Kitching and Miranda Chant