Body of 24-year-old homeless man found in Bull Creek in Tarentum

Emergency crews removed a man’s body that was found floating in Bull Creek on Wednesday afternoon in Tarentum.

Allegheny County police said the victim is a 24-year-old homeless man reported missing by a friend Aug. 19. His name has not yet been released.

According to police at the scene, the body was spotted shortly before 3 p.m. in an area just north of where Fourth Avenue crosses the creek under the Tarentum Bridge.

The body was found in an area of the creek between the Fourth Avenue bridge and a bridge carrying the nearby railroad tracks over the creek toward Fawn.

The body was taken by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office in Pittsburgh for examination.

County police said a preliminary investigation showed no obvious signs of trauma and no foul play is suspected.

Police and firefighters have recovered a body from this part of Bull Creek in Tarentum and have reopened Fourth Avenue. pic.twitter.com/TLtpDDgYXL

— Brian Rittmeyer (@BCRittmeyer) August 21, 2019

A crew with Eureka Fire Rescue EMS used a raft launched from the nearby Tarentum Marina on the Allegheny River to go up Bull Creek and retrieve the body.

Investigators from the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office took photos by the railroad tracks and at the marina.

Fourth Avenue in the area was closed until the body was recovered, reopening just after 4 p.m. The marina reopened about 6:15 p.m.

“It’s sad,” said Kala Apple, who lives on First Avenue near the marina. “Finding a dead body not even five minutes from your house is pretty scary.”

Suzanna Kozlowski, who lives near Apple on Second Avenue, said the creek is dangerous and noted a 10-year-old boy drowned there two years ago.

Tarentum and Allegheny County Police are investigating.

Anyone with information regarding the incident should call the county police tipline at 833-255-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.

Staff writer Michael DiVittorio contributed. Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BCRittmeyer.