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Police: Death of man found in trunk of abandoned car now a homicide investigation

Police say the car was towed by the company over the weekend after being discovered abandoned.

Battle Creek police have begun a homicide investigation after the body of a man was found Monday in a car towed over the weekend.

The body of Diabulo White, 43, of Battle Creek, was found in the trunk of a four-door Toyota Camry Monday morning.

Detectives said Monday afternoon they have arrested a 48-year-old man on unrelated charges but consider him a person of interest in White's death.

Lt. James Martens said police were called at 9:42 a.m. Monday after White's body was discovered in the car at Tiger's Towing at 111 S. Kendall St. in Battle Creek.

Martens said the car was towed by the company after police said it was found Saturday morning on private property by a resident on Helen Montgomery Avenue. The homeowner said the car was left sometime during the night.

Detective Sgt. Todd Elliott said police were contacted at 10:39 a.m. Saturday by the property owner and the car was towed by Tiger's to the company lot. Because the car was not connected to a crime at the time and was locked, it was not opened.

Elliott said investigators have not found any connection between the resident who located the car and White or the owner of the vehicle.

The female owner of the car went to the towing company Monday after being contacted about her car and discovered the body when she opened the trunk.

Elliott would not disclose if there was a relationship between the owner of the car and White. Although results of an autopsy are pending, he said police believe White died of an apparent gunshot wound to the head but was not shot in the car and probably not where the car was located. He said police are checking for reports of shots fired Friday night and early Saturday.

"We believe the intent was to hide the body and cover the crime," Elliott said.

Lt. Matthew Robinson patrols near a house on Somerset Avenue after a body was found in a car Monday morning. (Photo: Trace Christenson/The Enquirer)

Elliott said police received a tip Monday through Silent Observer about a person of interest and went to the area of Somerset and Grand avenues where they saw the man they were seeking run from a house.

Police chased and caught the man and then discovered a handgun which they believe he had thrown while he was running.

The man is being held on charges of resisting officers, illegally carrying a concealed weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Officers then obtained a search warrant and searched a home in the 100 block of Somerset Avenue. Elliott declined to comment on any further evidence collected.

Battle Creek Academy was locked while the search on Somerset Avenue was conducted.

Battle Creek police are waiting for a search warrant to search a house as part of the investigation into the man found dead in the trunk of a car earlier Monday. (Photo: Trace Christenson/The Enquirer)

Detectives were continuing interviews Monday afternoon but Elliott said they don't have a possible motive for the shooting.

Elliott said the Silent Sbserver tip was a huge help to investigators and asked for anyone else with information to call Silent Observer at 269-964-3888.

The Calhoun County Sheriff Department assisted city officers.

The homicide is the third in Calhoun County in 2018.

Contact Trace Christenson at 269-966-0685 or tchrist@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @TSChristenson

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