Police identify body found in Inver Grove Heights recycling center

Authorities have identified the body of a man found among the trash at an Inver Grove Heights recycling center.

St. Paul police say 24-year-old Justin Teigen's body was found early Wednesday morning.

The police investigation found that on Aug. 19 Teigen, of St. Paul, was in a car chase with St. Paul police that ended with the vehicle he was driving hitting a cement pillar.

The officer saw Teigen run away from the crash, but decided to tend to the passengers in the car rather than chase him. The follow-up investigation turned up video of Teigen climbing into a large trash container shortly after the crash.

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Police spokesman Paul Schnell says officers searched for him for much of the night, since a gun and suspected narcotics were found in the car he fled.

"It's likely that the suspect sustained injuries in the motor vehicle crash, but was able to flee from the scene," Schnell said. "We're unsure what caused his death, if it was related directly to the accident, or if it was part of becoming entwined in the compactor as the recycling materials were dumped into the truck."

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MPR Reporter Tim Nelson contributed to this report.