Authorities discovered a body in a patrol car at the Azusa Police Department, reportedly left there for several days.
The body was found on Thursday afternoon in the back of a non-operational patrol vehicle located outside the Azusa Downtown Police Department, as noted by Chief of Police Rocky Wenrick.
According to Wenrick, the police officers were unaware that the man had accessed the vehicle, and he was not in their custody at the time.
The individual had been arrested on March 20 on charges of suspected drunk driving and child endangerment, but was released on the previous Monday, as reported to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
Details surrounding how the man entered the police car or how long he had been inside remain unclear. “I didn’t know he was in the (police) car,” Azusa Police Lt. Robert Landeros stated, according to the Tribune.
However, Landeros also mentioned that footage captured the man entering the unlocked back seat of the patrol car. This vehicle was awaiting maintenance, which, Wenrick explained, is typical for patrol units that frequently cycle in and out as new vehicles are equipped.
Wenrick acknowledged that the vehicle should have been secured. An investigation is ongoing, with the Azusa Police Department engaging an outside firm to look into the circumstances, including why the car was left unlocked.
The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office is tasked with determining the cause of death, but as of Friday, that information remained pending.
