07/03/2014 15:30
STATE POLICE INVESTIGATE DEATH OF CARROLL CO. MAN
(WESTMINSTER, MD) – Maryland State Police are investigating the death of a Carroll County man whose body was found late this morning in a storm drain near a Westminster shopping center.
The man is identified as Robert L. Hawk, 54, whose last known address was Sykesville, Md. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Shortly before 11:00 a.m. today, Maryland State Police from the Westminster Barrack were called to the 500-block of Baltimore Blvd., Westminster, for the report of a found body. Responding troopers were told by an area business owner that he was mowing his lawn and observed what appeared to be a body in a storm drain between businesses along Rt. 140. Troopers and EMS personnel confirmed the location of the body and determined the man was deceased.
Maryland State Police criminal investigators responded. No obvious signs of trauma were observed on the man’s body. He appeared to have crawled about four feet into a drainage pipe, possibly to lie down. A shirt was folded beside him. There was no indication the man was trapped in the pipe.
During investigative interviews in the area, troopers learned a man fitting Hawk’s description had been seen walking unsteadily around a nearby shopping center parking lot yesterday morning. He had apparently been in the area as early as Tuesday. Troopers were told shopping center officials had given him a ‘no trespassing’ order on July 1st.
A gray Dodge Ram extended cab pickup registered to Hawk was found on the shopping center parking lot. Troopers found nothing inside or outside the vehicle to indicate foul play.
Hawk’s body has been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. The investigation is continuing.
