Family of Toronto man who fell to his death says police locked them in room, didn't let them speak to him
CBC
The family of a man who fell to his death from a west-end Toronto highrise earlier this month say they pleaded with police to be allowed to speak to their loved one, but were instead pushed into a building superintendant's office and locked inside during the final hours of Taresh Ramroop's life.
Through tears and grief, family and friends of Ramroop gathered Thursday, steps away from where he died on Oct. 13, demanding police be held accountable for his death.
Ramroop, 32, died after what organizers of Thursday's news conference called a "prolonged, violent encounter involving approximately 20 Toronto police officers."
What he needed that day, they said, was not a police response but mental health help.
No such help arrived, they say.
"Instead, the police staged an hours-long standoff which ended after Taresh tried to escape from a window," organizers said in a news release, before falling to his death from the 16th floor.
Ontario's police watchdog is investigating the circumstances of the fall, saying Toronto police were called to an apartment in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood around 4:30 p.m. for reports of a man "throwing objects" off of a balcony. The Special Investigations Unit has said three officers attempted to negotiate with the man before three more officers from the Emergency Task Force arrived to speak with him from an adjoining apartment.
The Toronto Police Service's website describes the ETF as responding to "high-risk emergency situations, search warrant execution, armed/barricaded persons and acts of terrorism."
Toronto police declined to answer questions about the case, including how many officers were present.
"The Service is not legally permitted to comment until the SIU has completed their independent investigation," spokesperson Const. Alex Li said in an email.
"His tragic passing has shocked us all and left us empty," a GoFundMe page for Ramroop says.
But while the SIU referenced just six officers in its statement, the family says it and other witnesses saw approximately 20 officers present.
"Bobby" as he was known to many of his loved ones suffered from severe depression, his sister, Vanessa Persaud, told reporters.
He had texted both of his parents to say he needed help that day, but his family says he did not want to end his life. He worked two jobs, wanted to help support his family and would be turning 33 on Nov. 1.
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