GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KFGO) – Grand Forks Police have identified the man whose body was found in a field at the Grand Forks Airport over the weekend and provided details about the events leading up to his death.
Police say on Friday – the day before the man’s body was discovered – officers were engaged in a pursuit with a pick-up truck just before 2:00 a.m. after checking on the driver who initially appeared to be passed out behind the wheel. The driver fled the scene and police gave chase but ended the pursuit after several minutes due to safety concerns and high speeds.
That afternoon, Grand Forks police assisted University of North Dakota officers at the airport for a report of a suspicious vehicle stuck in the snow in a field by UND’s James Ray hanger. The vehicle was determined to be the same truck from the pursuit and was found unoccupied.
Friday night, the driver of the pick-up was reported as a missing person by family members.
On Saturday morning officers from Grand Forks and UND Police, along with sheriff’s deputies and Grand Forks Airport fire department personnel conducted a search for the missing man. After several hours of searching his body was located in a field on the east side of the airport property. He has been identified as 30-year-old Tyler Smith of Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada.
Authorities say their investigation is ongoing and developing and anyone with information about, or who may have witnessed the incident, is encouraged to contact the Grand Forks Police.
