A 54-year-old homeless man was found dead on the beach Tuesday afternoon near Shutters on the Beach.
SMPD Sgt. Rudy Camarena said officers responded at 5:16 pm to a dead body call in the 1800 block of the beach – 20 yards west of the bike path next to a palm tree.
“The reporting party was an off-duty firefighter from a neighboring agency who had seen the person lying down as he rode his bicycle on the bike path,” Camarena said. “Upon his return at approximately 5:10 pm he noticed the body had remained motionless in the same position as he has seen it earlier. The witness went to check on the subject and found him unresponsive and without a pulse.”
The off-duty firefighter then called 911.
Camarena said at this time SMPD believe it is a natural death and is being handled by the LA county coroner’s office.
“Given that this is a Coroner’s investigation we won’t be releasing the name to ensure that next of kin is first notified,” Camarena said.