Man’s body mistaken for law enforcement dummy before it was reported to police

CHINA GROVE, N.C. — A man’s body was mistaken for a law enforcement dummy before it was discovered he had died, police said.

According to the China Grove Police Department, the body of 34-year-old Robert Paul Owens was found on Shue Road on Oct. 10.

Through their investigation, officers discovered that a groundskeeper saw Owens’ body on Oct. 9 while mowing the property’s lawn. He later said he thought the body was a fake one, like what law enforcement agencies have used over the years at the property.

The police department told Channel 9′s Hannah Goetz that multiple agencies have used the property and an abandoned log cabin on it over the years for police and K-9 training.

For that reason, the groundskeeper didn’t report the body. It wasn’t until the next day that another worker at the property reported it to police.

A neighbor who lives across the street with his grandfather told Goetz he never sees any trouble on the property -- just police training.

“The police go back there and they practice and all that which -- I see that a lot, I see police cars coming in and out,” Travon Bush said.

“Do you ever see anyone going in and out besides police?” Goetz asked.

“No, I see a lot of people going up and down but they go past the property,” he said. “I’m just like OK, maybe they are going to the store or getting something to eat.”

The initial results of an autopsy on Oct. 13 ruled out any signs of assault or trauma to Owens’ body, police said.

Investigators are still waiting for the toxicology report to figure out how Owens died. Police said according to his family, Owens had a history with substance abuse.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the China Grove Police Department or email Detective C. Frantz at cfrantz@chinagrovenc.gov.

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