Man discovered under bridge was known to police

VERNON – Police say they are familiar with a man found dead beneath a Vernon bridge.

"We know who he is, we have bumped into him numerous times in the last little while," RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says, adding the man is 55-years-old. "I would label him as one of our marginal individuals, street type (people)."

Monday evening, police were executing a search warrant at the Green Valley motel for drug trafficking when an individual notified them that an unconscious person was under nearby BX Creek bridge in Linnear Park in the 3500 block of 25th Avenue.

Despite efforts to resuscitate the man with CPR, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"No signs of trauma or foul play were found at the scene," Molendyk says. "Early indications are drugs may have been involved."

The investigation has been turned over to the B.C. Coroners Service, who will look into the exact cause of death.

While there is no connection between the death and the trafficking investigation, Molendyk says the Green Valley Motel is a hub for criminal activity and common gathering place for marginalized individuals because rent is low.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston. 

This story was edited at 10:40 a.m. to add further details about the death.