'Thief' leaps to death

CEBU, Philippines - A driver of a private school died after jumping off a building in barangay Talamban yesterday afternoon while in police custody for theft.

Dexter Avila, 33, a resident of barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City, leaped to death from the second floor of the Talamban Arcade where he guided the police to retrieve the computer units he stole from St. Jude Academy in barangay Pitogo, Consolacion.

Avila was arrested by the members of the Consolacion police last Saturday after he was accused of stealing seven units of personal computers from the school he was working. Avila admitted to the crime and helped the police to retrieve the stolen computers from where he sold it.

Avila led the police to Talamban Arcade to recover some stolen computers. After recovering the units, the suspect requested to be allowed to go to the comfort room.

PO1 Nilon Suico who escorted the suspect said that the latter immediately ran towards the second floor of the building. Thinking that the suspect will escape, Suico said they immediately ran after him. However, before the police could get hold of him he already jumped off.

The police believe that the suspect did not intend to kill himself but rather tried to escape from the police by jumping off the building. The police said Avila may have thought that he could make it since the second floor was only five meters high. But since he was handcuffed he lost his balance and fell on his head. — Niña G. Sumacot/FPL