Fall from roof of local restaurant ruled accidental

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A late-night fall off the roof of a Cloquet restaurant has been ruled accidental, according to Cloquet Police. Donald Michael Tanner, 26, of Cloquet was taken to the emergency room at Community Memorial Hospital after falling off the roof of the three-story Mexico Lindo building at approximately 10:15 p.m. last Wednesday night. Tanner was later treated and released, according to a hospital spokesperson.

According to Cloquet police, it appeared that Tanner had simply stepped over a ledge, thinking there was a roof to step onto. He instead stepped into the two-foot gap between two of the buildings and fell nearly 25 feet, landing on his back.

Cloquet Police Chief Wade Lamirande said there was no evidence of foul play, and the fall appears to have been accidental. For that reason, the police report on the incident is not a matter of public information.

“My understanding is there was someone on the roof with him and [there were] pedestrians down below,” Lamirande said, verifying that police and Cloquet Area Fire District (CAFD) personnel responded to the scene. “Both the witnesses and the victim corroborated that it was an unintentional accident.”

According to Lamirande, the only way to access the roof of the buildings is from the outside. Tanner reportedly gained access to the roof by climbing a ladder outside of the building.

Lamirande did not think Tanner and his companion were authorized to be on the rooftop. He did not know if alcohol or drugs were a factor in the acci

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