A 65-year-old man was found dead over the weekend on Disneyland property in Anaheim, California, in a somber incident near one of the entrances to the resort known as the “Happiest Place on Earth.”
Anaheim police responded shortly before 1:45 p.m. Sunday after receiving a report of an unconscious man near the resort’s south entrance off Katella Avenue, Sgt. Eric Anderson told News Media on Monday.
Officers found the man unconscious on a sidewalk between the resort hotels and a park entrance. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police found no apparent signs of trauma or foul play, and the death appeared to have resulted from natural causes, Anderson said.
The sidewalk is located on Disneyland property, not public land. Disneyland’s south entrance is separate from the resort’s main entrance and was created near the hotels to give guests staying there more convenient access to the park.
The incident happened around 6 p.m. Sunday on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disneyland. (David McNew/Getty Images)
Authorities have not released the man’s identity. Anderson said the coroner’s office would likely handle the identification process.
Anderson said Anaheim Police Department homeless liaison officers routinely contact people experiencing homelessness in the area. The officers check on their welfare, offer assistance and advise them when their conduct may violate the law.
Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California is cracking down with a new Guest Code of Conduct targeting ride disruptions tied to guest behavior. (Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images)
The man, who was 65, had previously interacted with the officers and was known to them before Sunday’s discovery.
Anderson emphasized that those earlier encounters were part of the department’s outreach efforts and were not connected to arrests or any other criminal activity.
Officers stayed at the scene while waiting for coroner’s office personnel to arrive and remove the body. The coroner’s office will also determine the official cause of death.
The 65-year-old had previously come into contact with those officers and was known to them before Sunday’s incident, Anaheim police said. (Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
Investigators found a beer can near the man, but it was not known whether it played any role in his condition or death, Anderson said.
Photos and video showed police tape blocking the sidewalk beneath a large Disneyland Resort entrance sign. A black privacy screen also concealed the area as authorities carried out their investigation.
Disneyland Resort Media Relations confirmed that Anaheim police responded to the scene but declined to answer additional questions, directing News Media to the police department.