The man was found fatally injured after he fled the scene hours earlier
NEED TO KNOW
- A man jumped off a hotel patio and died following a reported bar fight in California’s Central Coast on March 28
- The person fled the police and was captured on security footage jumping off the building shortly thereafter
- An investigation into the incident is ongoing
A man reportedly fled the scene as police responded to a bar fight in California's Central Coast. He was later found fatally injured after he jumped off a hotel patio onto the rocky beach below, officials said.
On Saturday, March 28, around 1:09 a.m. local time, officers were on patrol when they witnessed a fight between two people near The Salty Seal, a bar in Monterey, the Monterey Police Department said in a statement.
“As they approached, they saw a person on the ground who appeared to have been knocked unconscious during the altercation,” police said. The second individual then ran from the scene, prompting officers to run in pursuit, but they lost sight of the man near 425 Cannery Row.
A search of the area, including the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, didn’t result in any further sightings of the missing man, authorities said.
During the search, other officers continued to investigate the apparent assault near the bar.
“The assault victim was taken to a local hospital and was later released,” police said, adding that the person declined to provide information about the incident to officials.
Later that morning, at 8:14 a.m., officers were dispatched to the Monterey Plaza Hotel. Employees there were reviewing footage from the night before when they saw a person jump over the railing of a hotel patio shortly after the altercation, at approximately 1:10 a.m. The patio is about two stories high, with a rocky beach below.
Around the same time that officers responded to the hotel, a person visited the Monterey Police Department and inquired about the possible arrest of a family member, who had not come back home that night. Police informed the relative that the male subject had not been arrested and launched a search with the assistance of a police fireboat.
Credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty
Just before noon, the missing man was discovered not far from where he would have landed, beneath the promenade, officials said. The man was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died, according to the police.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The Monterey Police Department and the Monterey County Sheriff's Department, Coroner’s Division, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for further information.
An investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Wayland Kopp at (831) 646-3809 or submit an anonymous tip by calling (831) 646-3840.
Read the full article here
