Man dies in fall from house

An unidentified man fell to his death from an outdoor staircase at a Brighton residence early yesterday, and city officials said the building's owner will be cited today for not securing the structure.

Michael F. Grant Jr., 35, will be served with notice of an ``unsafe and dangerous" violation for not properly securing a metal spiral staircase at his home at 89 Dustin St., according to the Inspectional Services Department.

Grant had previously been ordered to stop renovation work he was doing on the building. The staircase led to a third floor in the two-family residence.

``There were only two bolts securing this to the building," said Lisa Timberlake, a department spokeswoman. ``It was unsafe. There is a violation, and he will be cited."

Grant, a contractor who bought his family home in May from his parents, declined to comment when reached by telephone late yesterday afternoon. ``In a couple of days, I may have a statement," he said.

City officials declined to disclose the victim's identity, pending notification of his family.

Police and the Fire Department responded to a 911 call yesterday at 2:21 a.m. The victim, a white male, was found to have fallen from the staircase. He was taken to St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

It was unclear why the victim climbed the staircase, which went up the side of the house. Grant told a city building inspector yesterday that he did not know the victim. ``I'm told he didn't know who he was," Timberlake said of Grant.

Complaints from residents about renovations to the house prompted the city to issue Grant a stop-work order about seven months ago, Timberlake said.

At that time, a city building inspector determined that Grant had not obtained the proper building permits. The staircase was among the infractions, Timberlake said.

Grant then applied for a building permit, which was denied.

Grant lived on the second floor of the house with his wife and small child. The couple is expecting a second child soon, according to neighbors.

Neighbors were awakened by sirens and flashing lights early yesterday.

One resident said she was not surprised someone had fallen from the staircase. ``It just didn't look secure," said Barbara-Jean Smith, who said she noticed the structure on walks through the neighborhood near Brighton Center.

Kathy McCabe can be reached at kmccabe@globe.com.