Little Caesar’s Arena Fall May Have Been a Suicide, Police Say

DETROIT, MI — An electrical worker who fell 75 ft to his death at the Little Caesars Arena construction site Wednesday morning is believed to have committed suicide, the Detroit Police Department said late Wednesday afternoon. Rescue attempts failed, and the worker was pronounced dead at Detroit Receiving Hospital.

An investigation will continue until the police department receives a medical examiner's report, which could take several weeks. Detroit Police Media Relations Director Michael Woody said the preliminary conclusion is based on witness statements and the police department's investigation.

Earlier, arena general contractor Barton Malow Co. CEO Ryan Maibach said it didn't appear the man died due to a "construction related incident."

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"After a review of the facts surrounding today's tragic event, we have reached a preliminary conclusion that this event was not the result of a construction-related accident," he said in a statement. "Additional information may become available as the Detroit Police Department concludes their investigation."

Detroit Deputy Fire Commissioner Dave Forell said the fire department got the dispatch about about 8 a.m. and he was in cardiac arrest when they arrived at the site on Cass Avenue. The man wasn’t wearing a safety harness when rescue crews arrived, but it may have been removed by co-workers who had already begun CPR, Forell said.

Early in the investigation, Forell said investigators weren't sure what had happened, but said "that kind of fall is not usually survivable," the Detroit Free Press said.

IBEW Local 58 identified the worker as Michael Morrison, a member of the local who had been working at the arena site for about eight months, The Detroit News reported. A statement on the local’s website read:

“What if’s’ and ‘should have’s’ will not bring this brother back home today,” read a statement on the website. “His family is without a father, husband, provider and friend. Our hearts break for them. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”

Doug Kuiper, vice president of communications for Ilitch Holdings, which is building the arena, said in a statement:

“Our thoughts, condolences and prayers go out to the family, friends and co-workers affected by this tragedy. We lost a member of our crew today, and it is an extremely sad and difficult time for our entire organization and for the many dedicated men and women building this project.
“The safety and security of everyone on our job sites remains our highest priority, and more information will be shared as it becomes available throughout the investigation.”

Michael Richard, business manager for IBEW Local 58, told The Detroit News the worker’s death is a grim reminder of dangers in the construction industry.

“It’s a reminder of how extremely dangerous these jobs are,” he said. “These are highly skilled and highly trained workers, (but) unfortunately unforeseen accidents can happen.”

Workers at the arena were sent him for the day.

Image: Construction continues on Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Monday, June 12, 2017. The arena scheduled to open in September will be home to the NHL hockey Detroit Red Wings and NBA basketball Detroit Pistons. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)