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A man parading in women's underwear and a Santa hat jumped to his death in central Melbourne after police used capsicum spray on him.
The man, in his 40s, had been harassing neighbours and acting oddly this afternoon at a block of flats in Nicholson Street, Carlton, witnesses told Victoria Police.
"It is believed the man was harassing neighbours and passers-by while parading around in female underwear and a Santa hat," Victoria Police spokeswoman Senior Constable Cassy Stone said.
Police arrived at the flats at about 4.30pm and found the man on the 15th floor.
"A confrontation occurred between police and the man, resulting in police deploying capsicum spray on him," Snr Const Stone said.
The man ran from the officers and into a stairwell and was next seen on the ground near the building.
The man had jumped from a balcony on the 14th floor, Snr Constable Stone said.
The man was taken by ambulance to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition but died soon after 8pm.
The Victoria police homicide squad and the Ethical Standards Department are investigating the incident.
Police are preparing a report for the coroner.
- AAP
