Man found deceased outside Rosa Parks during AM drop-off
"Cars and families walking to school had to be rerouted," a reader told The Scanner.
A welfare check outside a Berkeley elementary school Monday morning led police to discover a man who had died on the sidewalk, authorities report.
Multiple readers alerted The Scanner after seeing "extensive police activity" near Rosa Parks Elementary School, at Eighth Street and Allston Way.
"Cars and families walking to school had to be rerouted," one reader said.
Berkeley police told TBS that someone initially called for a welfare check on a man who appeared to be sleeping on the sidewalk at 7:25 a.m.
Someone else called 911 to report that the man was not breathing, police said.
The Berkeley police and fire departments responded to the scene and determined that the man was deceased.
There were no signs of foul play, authorities said.
The man was in his late 60s and did not appear to be unhoused, authorities said.
The Alameda County coroner's office responded to the scene to remove the body and determine cause of death.
The Scanner has asked the coroner's office for further details.
The investigation is ongoing, police said.
Holen Robie, Rosa Parks principal, told parents that police had left the area by about 9:15 a.m., according to an email shared with The Scanner.
"Normal activity has resumed," she wrote. "As a result, all entries to Rosa Parks are open and accessible for dismissal."
Robie told parents she could not share any details about what happened because it was "an active BPD investigation."
"Although the situation this morning did not involve any of our BUSD students, we know that police presence can be unsettling. Please know that Rosa Parks has counselors and staff available for students who need to talk or process this morning's occurrence," she wrote.
See significant police activity? Share photos if it's safe, and send tips when you can. There's no more police scanner traffic in Berkeley, which makes breaking news hard to track without help.
