Police investigate suspicious death, fires along Puyallup Riverwalk Trail
Detectives are investigating the suspicious death of a man found Monday along the Puyallup Riverwalk Trail and several fires in the area.
The man has not yet been identified. Investigators believe he was homeless, according to a statement Tuesday from the Puyallup Police Department.
He was found burned at a transient camp along the Riverwalk Trail, which was one of three fires reported within four blocks and within 30 minutes of one another. Investigators believe the fires are related.
The man appears to have died from the fire where he was found, near the 1300 block of East Main Avenue, the police statement said.
The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office has not released an official cause or manner of the man’s death.
Police got reports about 5:30 p.m. that several trash cans were on fire in the 700 block of Second Avenue Northeast.
A second fire was soon reported, which is where the man was found. There were also reports of “loud booms” that investigators think were containers of compressed gas exploding at that scene, the police statement said.
Another blaze at a transient camp was also reported.
Central Pierce Fire and Rescue put out the fires and brought an accelerant detection dog to investigate.
Anyone with information can call the Puyallup Police Department tip line at (253) 770-3343 or email tips@ci.puyallup.wa.us.
This story was originally published December 31, 2019 at 2:08 PM.
