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Police have launched a critical incident investigation after an Indigenous man fell from a 13th floor balcony and died while officers were attempting to take him into custody in Sydney's inner-south.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following content contains images of people who have died.
Patrick Fisher, 31, was wanted in relation to two outstanding warrants for assault and stealing offences.
A NSW Police media release from Monday said Mr Fisher frequented the Redfern, Waterloo and Surry Hills areas.
Police attended Mr Fisher's girlfriend's unit in George Street, Waterloo this morning searching for him.
They said they were acting on information from the public.
Emergency services were called to the scene before 11:00am with reports Mr Fisher had fallen and died.
Residents in Waterloo have gathered around the crime scene, with several expressing shock at the man's death.
Redfern Local Area Command established a crime scene and the critical incident investigation would be subject to an independent review to be reported to the coroner.
His family have given the ABC permission to use his name and image.
Neighbours and relatives have told the ABC Mr Fisher had been taking crystal meth when police knocked at the door.
They also say he slipped and fell as he tried to climb down to another unit.
One relative, who only wanted to be identified as Toya, said it was likely he panicked.
"I know he wouldn't have killed himself, he had too much to live for," she said.
"If he didn't jump he would have got bashed by them."
Toya said although Mr Fisher did wrong and made mistakes he had a "good heart".
"He didn't deserve to die like this, he's only young."
She called for an independent investigation on the police over the incident.
"They get away with too much here," she said.
"It's nothing to them, just one less person to chase on the street."
Topics: death, black-deaths-in-custody, police, law-crime-and-justice, waterloo-2017
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