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Durango police investigating death of homeless man found near X-rock

52-year-old was living in an illegal camp obscured by trees near north Main Avenue
The Durango Police Department is investigating the death of a 52-year-old homeless man found in an illegal camp near X-rock along north Main Avenue. (Durango Herald file)

Durango Police Department is investigating the death of a homeless man found in an illegal campsite Thursday near the X-rock parking lot near northern city limits.

Police and Durango Fire Protection District first responders were dispatched to a hillside near X-rock in the 3800 block of Main Avenue after receiving a call at 10:22 a.m. Thursday about an unconscious man who wasn’t breathing, according to Detective Sgt. Chris Thompson with the DPD.

The man’s identity has not been released by law enforcement, which is attempting to notify next of kin. Thompson said the man was 52 years old. He was living in the illegal homeless camp for an unknown amount of time.

He said police and EMS found the man in the camp about 100 yards directly west of the Colorado Department of Transportation office at 3801 Main Ave. The campsite was located in the trees.

First responders determined the man was deceased and beyond help, so no medical intervention was given, he said.

He said autopsy results will not be available for several weeks while La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith awaits toxicology results. No foul play is suspected at this time.

Smith said in an interview on Friday the toxicology will likely take three to four weeks to be completed.

“We did an autopsy today and didn’t find anything really significant. So we’re waiting on the (toxicology report),” she said.

No additional details were released as of Friday, Thompson said.

cburney@durangoherald.com



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