Arrest Made In Death Of Man Found On Bench Outside Hospital

SANTA MONICA, CA – A man in his 40s with blunt force chest trauma was found dead Friday on a bench outside a Santa Monica hospital, and detectives later arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of murder, a police lieutenant said.

The suspect was identified as Daniel Roy Davis, whose place of residence was not disclosed.

The unidentified victim's body was found on the grounds of Providence St. John's Health Center at 2121 Santa Monica Blvd. about 6:45 a.m. by hospital staff, who called police, SMPD Lt. Saul Rodriguez said.

"As detectives were canvassing the area, they located Davis in the immediate area of the 2300 block of Santa Monica Boulevard," Rodriguez said. "Detectives gathered evidence linking Davis to the crime."

Davis was arrested on suspicion of murder and was jailed on $2 million bail, the lieutenant said.

Investigators planned to present the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office on Tuesday.

Anyone with information about the case was urged to call Santa Monica police at (310) 458-8491 or Detective Elias at (310) 458-8943.

-----------------

PREVIOUS: FRIDAY, JULY 7, 12:33 p.m.

Police were called to Providence Saint John's Health Center this morning after a dead man was found on a bench by security workers outside the facility at 2121 Santa Monica Blvd. -- a death deemed "suspicious" by officials.

The Santa Monica Police Department responded to the call at about 6:44 a.m., and now are turning to the public seeking witnesses or anyone with information on the case, the agency said.

Preliminary investigation showed the victim, a white male in his 40s, suffered a blunt-force injury to his upper torso, according to police.

Hospital security discovered the man's body and notified hospital staff, who determined he was deceased, officials said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Santa Monica police at (310) 458-8491.

• ALSO SEE: Worker Secretly Filmed Men In Police Department Bathroom: Cops

--Image via SMPD/City News Service contributed to this report