Man Found In Heritage Park Identified; Cause of Death Still Unknown

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has ruled out drowning, hypothermia, and physical trauma as possible causes of death for a man whose body was found in St. Cloud’s Heritage Park early Tuesday.

The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office announced the results of its autopsy of 39-year-old David Eugene Salinas Friday afternoon. A toxicology report is still pending.

St. Cloud Police Department officers tried to arrest Salinas the prior afternoon when they were called out to a parking lot in the 200 block of 33rd Avenue South for a man possibly doing drugs in a vehicle.

Salinas ran and a Taser was deployed. Only one prong attached to his pants pocket, meaning he was not shocked by the weapon. Salinas got away from the officers who chased on foot. He hopped a fence and disappeared into the woods on the southern end of Heritage Park.

SCPD then set up a perimeter and used a drone to try to locate Salinas. They were unable to do so and the search was called off at about 5:30 p.m. Monday.

Salinas was found by a person just before 8:00 a.m. Tuesday who was walking on a nearby trail at the park. The BCA says its agents are reviewing video cam footage from the Monday arrest attempt.

Salinas was wanted for multiple felony warrants and had fled from the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

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