Elderly Man Apprehended After Teck Whye Window Ledge Incident
A 67-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Friday, January 2, after locking himself in his Housing Board flat at Block 165A Teck Whye Crescent and sitting on the window ledge.
Police were alerted at about 3:05 a.m. after a resident reported a burning smell and received no response from the unit. Upon arrival, officers found the man on the ledge and the room locked. Assessing that he posed a danger to himself, they activated the Special Operations Command, the Crisis Negotiation Unit, and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
SCDF deployed a safety life air pack and had its Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team on standby. After prolonged engagement, the man opened the door at approximately 6:35 a.m., allowing officers to enter.
He was apprehended under Section 7(1) of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008 and also referred to the Central Narcotics Bureau for suspected drug-related offences.
Support Resources in Singapore
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or facing a mental health crisis, help is available:
- Samaritans of Singapore (24-hour hotline): 1767
- Institute of Mental Health (National Mindline): 1771 (24-hour hotline) or 6669-1771 (WhatsApp)
- Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
- Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800
- Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928
- We Care Community Services: 3165-8017
Seeking support is a sign of strength, and early intervention can make a meaningful difference.
