Man who fell to death before he was going to be arrested on suspicion of indecent child images is named

A man who fell to his death moments before he was going to be arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent child images has been named as Ashley Crews.

Mr Crews, who fell from a ninth story balcony window at the tower block, on Hamerton Road, in Collyhurst, was pronounced dead at the scene on Tuesday night (February 20). A huge emergency services presence swarmed the road with a large cordon put in place around the Roach Court apartment building.

The Manchester Evening News has revealed that police entered the apartment and told Mr Crews, aged in his 40s, that he was being arrested on suspicion of possession of indecent images of children.

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It is understood that he was about to be led away when he asked to retrieve an item of clothing. Moments later he fell to his death from a balcony window in front of shocked officers. Police attempted CPR as paramedics raced to the scene, but he was declared dead. Manchester Coroner's Office has since confirmed that a file under the name of Ashley Crews has been received.

Due to Mr Crews' contact with the police, the incident was referred to the GMP's Professional Standards Directorate and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Since then, the IOPC has decided to carry out an independent investigation into the incident. The watchdog's investigators have visited the scene.

An IOPC spokesperson said: "We have begun an independent investigation into an incident involving GMP officers on Tuesday (February 20) in Collyhurst, north Manchester. Officers attended an address on Hammerton (sic) Road, at around 7pm, and whilst there, a man fell from a property.

"Officers and paramedics provided medical assistance to