Transient Man Dies Near Pershing Park

A 45-year-old homeless man was found dead on the sidewalk on Castillo Street near the entrance to Pershing Park at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday evening, marking the third transient death near the oceanfront park since October. Police said they responded to a call about a medical emergency after a neighbor witnessed the man lying unresponsive on the sidewalk. The neighbor had approached the man, who was sitting on the sidewalk, a little bit earlier and asked him if he was okay, police said. The man responded that he was fine, but a short while later he was seen splayed on the ground. Nothing was suspicious about the death, according to police, and there were no noticeable signs of drug use at the scene. As of 6:45 p.m., the body was still on the sidewalk. His identity is being withheld as the next of kin is still being notified.