ST. GEORGE — While the Sullivan Soccer Park was packed with people gathered to watch and play soccer across the park’s numerous fields Friday afternoon, police officers quietly arrived and searched for a man who had been reported missing earlier that day. They found the missing man’s body near the Virgin River.
Washington City Police Chief Jason Williams was at the scene along with a handful of officers in a small, roped-off area on the path that runs along the Virgin River by the park.
“We were notified earlier today on reports of a missing person, which led us here to Sullivan Park later this afternoon,” Williams said.
Police had been led to the park by pings received from the missing man’s OnStar car system and then his mobile phone, the chief said.
“We later found a male with a self-inflicted gunshot wound down toward the river,” Williams said.
The man’s body was not readily visible from the park or the path as a large hedge of vegetation runs along the path, separating the park proper from sight of the Virgin River.
The man the police found matched the profile and description of the missing man given to authorities by family members, Williams said, adding there ware no signs of foul play connected to the incident.
The small number of police officers remained at the park to process the scene and waited for the coroner to arrive to collect the man’s body.
The police presence largely appeared to go unnoticed by those gathered at the park at the time.
However, due to the high number of people in the area, the police roped off a point along the path that led to the river bank.
The Washington City Police Department extends its condolences to the man’s family, Williams said.
Resources
- If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
- The Dixie State Health and Counseling Center is located at 1037 E. 100 South. To make an appointment, call 435-652-7755.
- Southern Utah University Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) | 435-865-8621.
- Southwest Behavioral Health emergency number: 435-634-5600.
- SafeUT is an app that allows people to report when someone is in a crisis, as well as bullying and violence.
- Additional resources for Southern Utah can be found at Reach4HopeUtah.org.
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