Attleboro Police Officer Finds Body Burning On Side Of Road

ATTLEBORO (CBS) -- An officer patrolling a quiet neighborhood early Tuesday morning thought he was dealing with a brush fire along the side of the road--but it turned out to be a man's burning body.

Attleboro Police Chief Kyle Heagney said the officer found the body in a densely-wooded tree line about three feet from the road near the intersection of Prescott Street and West Street around 2:50 a.m.

The dead man has not yet been identified. Heagney said the death was being investigated as a homicide.

Chief Heagney said police have been increasing patrols in the area after residents there reported seeing an increase in drug activity.

"We've been receiving reports of drug activity, hand-to-hand drug transactions," said Chief Heagney. "The street is adjacent to I-95 and Exit 3, so it's convenient for people who are going to meet up and exchange drugs to get off the highway, meet up in this quiet residential area, do their drug transaction, and leave."

Gary Padula lives in the neighborhood. He told reporters that he was awoken by his spotlight going off some time around 3 a.m., and noticed firefighters responding a short time later.

"Personally, I don't think it's anyone from around here," he said. "I hope it's nobody from around here."

He said police have been more active in the area because of the drug reports, but said he didn't know of any arrests because of it.

Officers could be seen picking through the wooded area searching for evidence Tuesday morning. The area where the body was found was about 500-600 feet from nearby homes.

"It's troubling. In a quiet neighborhood like this," Padula said. "We have children down the street, elderly people over there ... everyone knows each other."

The Bristol County District Attorney's office said an autopsy would be conducted on the man's body later Tuesday.

Attleboro and State Police are investigating along with the Bristol County DA's office.

"It's a very active investigation right now," said Chief Heagney.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Mike Macklin reports