Coroner: Man found dead in San Gabriel River in South El Monte drowned


SOUTH EL MONTE >> The death of a man whose body was found floating in the San Gabriel River in South El Monte over the weekend has been ruled an accidental drowning, coroner’s officials said Friday.
The body of Alex Giovanne Castillo, 23, described as transient, was first spotted by a dog-walker about 1:15 p.m. Sunday, floating face-down in the river near Peck Road and Durfee Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s and coroner’s officials said.
Investigators conducted an autopsy and determined Castillo drowned, and the death was ruled accidental, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner records show.
Further information regarding the circumstances of the drowning were not available Friday. But the body was found the same day that a Spring storm dropped scattered rainfall, and even hail, across the Southland.

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Body found in San Gabriel River identified, cause of death remains unclear


SOUTH EL MONTE >> Authorities have identified a 23-year-old man whose body was found floating in the San Gabriel River over the weekend.
The body of Alex Giovanne Castillo was discovered about 1:15 p.m. on Sunday, floating face-down in the river near Peck Road and Durfee Avenue, according to Ed Winter, assistant chief of operations at the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. He was believed to be transient.
The man’s cause of death was yet to be determined through an autopsy, Winter said.
A man walking his dog first spotted the body, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. David Kearney.
The body was “moderately” decomposed, indicating a relatively recent death, officials said.
No further details were available.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Temple Station at 626-285-7171. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Body found in riverbed in South El Monte


SOUTH EL MONTE >> A body was discovered in a the San Gabriel riverbed in South El Monte on Sunday afternoon, but little information was available.
Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Park Services Bureau notified sheriff’s Temple Station personnel that a body had been found near Peck Road and Durfee Avenue, Lt. Frank Ruiz of the sheriff’s Temple Station said.
No further information, including the person’s age or gender, or whether there were any signs of foul play, were released.
Ruiz deferred to the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau for additional information. Deputy Lisa Jansen of the sheriff’s Information Bureau said the Homicide Bureau was not handling the investigation and referred inquiries back to the sheriff’s Temple Station, which again referred questions back to the Homicide Bureau.
A deputy who answered the phone at the Homicide Bureau declined to comment and referred inquiries to a Homicide Bureau sergeant who was not available.

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Whittier man who died after struggle with police identified


WHITTIER >> Coroner’s officials on Sunday released the identity of a 27-year-old Whittier man who died after a struggle with police in Whittier last week.
Jonathan Andrew Salcido died at a hospital after being detained by police about 2 p.m. Thursday in the 900 block of Ocean View Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Investigator Rudy Molano said.
The officers had responded to a call from a nearby home reporting a family member suffering from mental illness was refusing to go to a psychiatric facility, according to Deputy Caroline Rodriguez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Information Bureau.
The man, later identified as Salcido, had run away from the home when police arrived, but was followed by a family member.
When officers encountered the man, he began trying to jump a fence in front of a water reservoir, Rodriguez said in a written statement.
Police used “control holds” to wrestle Salcido into custody, she said. Salcido soon became unconscious and was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Salcido’s cause of death remained unclear Sunday pending the completion of an autopsy, Molano said.
No further details regarding the incident were available. The sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is handling the investigation.

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