Authorities work to ID burned body
EL CENTRO — A man whose body was discovered Tuesday inside a burning trash can behind businesses in the 900 block of Second Street was expected to be identified in the coming days, authorities said.
Similarly, a preliminary determination into the individual’s cause of death should be established by early next week, stated El Centro Police Department Cmdr. Aaron Reel.
The unidentified man’s body was initially discovered at 7:10 a.m. Tuesday when authorities responded to a report of a trash can fire near the railroad tracks just west of the location in question.
Once El Centro firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, they discovered the body, burned beyond recognition, ECPD previously reported.
Authorities have not released any additional details regarding the ongoing homicide investigation.
A review of the police call logs related to the incident in question suggests that a person wearing a dark hoodie and white shorts was identified as a possible suspect.
News of the discovery was on the minds of some employees of the businesses along the western side of Second Street on Wednesday, while others admitted to not having been aware of the incident.
For some, the fatal incident added to prior concerns. Those businesses are bordered on the west by the Union Pacific railroad tracks, where homeless encampments and loitering were a common sight.
Because of such activities, one business employee, who asked not to be identified, said their daily morning worksite routine is to circle the interior of the property in their vehicle to check for any signs of trouble.
On Tuesday morning, the employee said they observed a residential trash can on fire along the railroad tracks just beyond the business’ rear perimeter fence.
The employee was in the process of calling 911 when they heard the sirens of approaching El Centro firefighters. When it became apparent by the heavy police presence that something serious had transpired, the employee said they decided to review footage of the business’ surveillance cameras.
The surveillance video reportedly showed a male subject in a hoodie struggling to pull a wheeled trash can southbound along the eastern side of the railroad tracks shortly after 6:30 a.m.
Minutes later, the man could be observed on the recording walking northbound without the trash can, the employee said.
Police investigators later were able to review the business’ surveillance video and obtained a copy for themselves, the employee said.
A different employee of another business said that authorities have done much in the past month to clear out the railroad tracks of homeless encampments.
Prior to the enforcement action, many business owners had reportedly notified the police of the homeless individuals’ constant presence, as well as instances of commercial burglaries, the employee said.
The recent closing of a nearby recycling center appears to have cut down on the foot traffic passing through the area, but not completely, said Patricia Churchwell, a longtime employee of Rick’s Group Diesel, Inc.
The business, which specializes in truck sales, service and parts and is located in the 600 block of Second Street, is secured by fencing, employs surveillance cameras and typically has someone onsite at all hours of the day. The workplace conditions appear to have largely safeguarded it from commercial burglaries, Churchwell said.
Still, it is not uncommon for individuals to come onto the property during normal hours of operation to ask for cold water or air for bicycle tires, requests that Churchwell said she has yet to decline.
“I try to treat all people with respect, but I also keep watch of what they’re doing,” she said.
Anyone with information regarding the fatal incident is asked to contact the El Centro Police Department Investigations Unit at (760) 352-2111 extension 1336 or can remain anonymous by using the We-Tip link: https://www.wetip.com/