A 47-year-old man was arrested after allegedly throwing a bicycle and other household items from a 20th-floor flat in Bukit Batok, triggering a six-hour standoff with police and emergency responders.
The incident happened at Block 393 Bukit Batok West Avenue 5 at about 11am on Sept 21. Police received calls reporting that objects were being thrown from a high floor, and officers later established that the man had locked himself inside the unit and refused to open the door.
Items found scattered below included shoes, clothing, cardboard boxes, sofa cushions, hair dryers, a bicycle and children’s scooters. A wheelchair was also reported among the objects thrown from the flat. Residents said they contacted police after seeing the items fall from the building, with one resident saying a bicycle was among the objects.
The situation escalated into a major emergency response after authorities assessed that the man could pose a danger to himself. Officers from the Special Operations Command and Crisis Negotiation Unit were deployed alongside the Singapore Civil Defence Force.
SCDF placed two safety life air packs below the block, while rescue personnel prepared a safety net and rappelled from above as a precaution. The measures were intended to protect people on the ground and provide additional safeguards during the operation.
During the standoff, the man was seen at the window of the high-floor unit. Local reports said he remained inside for several hours while emergency responders monitored the situation. Heavy rain also fell during the afternoon, but the operation continued.
At about 5.05pm, police gained entry to the unit and arrested the man. Reports said officers cut through the unit’s metal gate before entering. He was arrested for an alleged rash act. No injuries were reported, and police investigations are continuing.
The incident has also drawn attention to the risks posed when objects are thrown from high-rise buildings. Residents below could have been seriously injured had anyone been struck, while emergency teams had to secure the area and prepare for the possibility of a further escalation.
Police have not disclosed further details about what led to the incident. The investigation remains ongoing.
