Homicide detectives believe a man whose body was found in a wooded slope near 124 Street and Jasper Avenue yesterday wasn’t a victim of foul play.
Until a medical examiner completes an autopsy today, however, the case is still considered suspicious, said police spokeswoman Karen Carlson.
“He has been identified, he is an adult male, but we are not able to release anything more until we know for sure what we are dealing with,” said Carlson.
“If it turns out that this is not a criminal investigation, we are not able to give out his identification.”
Residents and business owners in the upscale downtown neighbourhood noticed a large police presence and emergency officials shortly before 11:30 a.m.
Officers were also seen pulling the body on a stretcher out of a wooded area above Victoria Park while forensic officers were not visibly on scene.
“I’ve seen homeless people coming in and out of the laneway there,” said Antonio Candiani, a business owner who has been in the area for 18 years, while police were seen working across the street.
Carlson wouldn’t comment if the man was homeless.
