Man dies after leaping off Westside building

A 46-year-old homeless man died Wednesday after he jumped from the

13th floor of a high-rise on Costa Mesa’s Westside, officials said.

The man, whose name was not released pending notification to his

family, hurled himself out the window of a common area in the Bethel

Towers in the 600 block of West 19th Street about 4:47 p.m., said Costa

Mesa Lt. Ron Smith.

“He jumped out, taking the window screen with him,” Smith said.

The man landed in the alley west of the towers, he said.

Costa Mesa police have had previous contact with the man, who is known

to be a transient in the area, Smith added.

“It seems to us the intent was suicide,” Smith said. “He did not leave

a note or seem to want to attract the attention of passersby.”

Police are not sure how he got up to the 13th floor of the building,

Smith said. The man could have just walked past the lobby, Smith added.

The incident did not cause any traffic delays, he said.

Smith said such incidents have been rare but not unprecedented at

Bethel Towers. The 18-story tower houses more than 290 seniors.

“I can remember about two or three incidents over the last 25 years,”

Smith said. “It is the tallest building in the Westside and probably the

tallest in the city, if you exclude the South Coast Plaza high-rises.”