A standoff in Sydney's north has ended after police arrested a man who had perched himself on a 27th-floor balcony for more than 12 hours following the discovery of a woman's body.
The man who is believed to be in his 30s appeared on a balcony rooftop of the Leura building, off Brown Street in Chatswood, on Monday morning shortly after 7am on Monday.
It came after a trademan on his way to work saw the body of a woman, also aged in her 30s, lying in an alley nearby.
A man is seen on a ledge on an apartment building in Chatswood, Sydney, Monday, October 9, 2017 (AAP) Source: AAP
"It was pretty obvious due to the harshness of the scene," he said via Facebook.
Mr Hamilton said he also saw smears of blood on a wall about five metres away.
The man spent the entire day on the rooftop, at times appearing agitated and dangling his bare feet over the edge, as a negotiator spoke to him with the help of a Korean translator.
Two officers wearing helmets and harnesses were positioned in an area above him.
About 7.15pm, there appeared to be a struggle on the roof area and the man was taken into custody.
He was arrested by officers attached to the NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit.
The man has been taken to Royal North Shore Hospital as a precaution, and remains there under police guard.
An investigation is now underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
But police are investigating the likelihood this is a domestic-violence related incident.
Police will prepare a report for the information of the coroner.
Temperatures in Sydney climbed to about 30C during the day, and the man was given cigarettes and water.
The woman's body remained below, covered by a police tent, and detectives were unable to retrieve it due to the ongoing operation.
Police have refused to confirm reports the dead woman was the man's girlfriend.
The man took off his shoes in the late morning and was handed cigarettes by police, but sat near the edge of the roof for most of the afternoon.
The macabre situation drew a crowd of spectators.
Rohan Pulakhandam who works at the nearby Hoyts cinema saw the man just after 11am.
"As soon as I saw the man it was just gut-wrenching," Mr Pulakhandam told AAP.
"The fact that he's been sitting for so long in the heat with the sun shining directly on him - he mustn't be feeling very good."
