Bend police investigating suspicious death after man’s body found in ditch near North Highway 97

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A call for a welfare check on the north end of Bend Thursday morning led police to the body of a man in a ditch off U.S. Highway 97, prompting a suspicious death investigation, police said.

Officers responded to the requested welfare check in the 3300 block of North U.S. Highway 97 shortly before 9:30 a.m., Sheila Miller, communications manager for the Bend Police Department, said Thursday.

When officers arrived, they found the body of a man in a ditch west of the Pacific Pride gas station, she said.

“The man’s death is currently being investigated as suspicious,” Miller said, adding that his name would not be released until family members are notified.

Miller told NewsChannel 21 that officers have cordoned off the area for the investigation and have called in the Oregon State Police forensics unit and the medical examiner.

Officers are contacting nearby businesses to see if anyone in the area noticed anything unusual, she said. They will also be looking for surveillance video from businesses in the area.