PENDLETON — Pendleton locals taking their dog for a walk Thursday morning found a man’s body. Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts said the body did not show signs of foul play and was wet, lacked outer clothing such as a jacket, as well shoes and socks. He said the man may have died from exposure to the elements, and the state medical examiner’s office plans to conduct an autopsy Friday.

The body was near a frontage road off McKennon Road, between Crop Production Services and the Umatilla River. The area is popular with dog owners, and Roberts said that was who found the body.

Police know the man’s identity, Roberts said, and his criminal history shows he lived many places but lacks any contact information for relatives. He said officers are working with several other agencies to notify his next of kin.

Alcohol also may have been a factor. Roberts said the man’s final stay in the Umatilla County Jail ended Monday, after Pendleton police arrested him last week when he was in a vehicle that was not his and suffering what could have been alcohol withdrawal. That arrest occurred in the same area as the body.

Roberts also said officers tracked down witnesses who said the man recently was in the area where he died and either had alcohol or seemed to be under the influence.