A critical incident has been declared in Sydney after a man died after falling from a unit balcony while he was being pursued by police.
Police allege the 49-year-old man robbed a nearby grocery store with a knife in a “frightening” confrontation before he fell from the home in Surry Hills about 9.10pm yesterday.
CCTV from Aruma Grocery on the next street shows a man in a mask wielding a large knife.
The man allegedly threatened two people in the shop around 8pm yesterday and took a cash register containing around $180.
Shop owner Faris Alwiswih said a customer in the shop, on Devonshire Street tried to stop him using a mop.
“We refused to give him him any cash, he took the whole cash register and ran away from the shop,” Alwiswih said.
He met up outside with a woman police allege is Tiahna Hatch, 21, and they bolted across the busy road and light rail track to an apartment block.
Police headed to the apartments in Belvoir Street an hour later as part of their investigations.
A man and woman were in the hallway of the units when police arrived, with police saying he ran when he saw officers.
“As police approached the unit a man believed to be aged in his 40s has run from the unit block and jumped over a balcony and has fallen five storeys and is unfortunately deceased,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Scott Tanner said.
Police gave the man first aid until paramedics arrived.
He was rushed to hospital but died on the way.
Hatch faced court today on charges including robbery with an offensive weapon.
She was granted bail and walked from Surry Hills police station early this afternoon.
A critical incident team from Inner West Police Area Command will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The investigation will be subject of an independent review by the Professional Standards Command and oversight by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
