HAMLET— Police believe a man whose body was found Sunday afternoon died following a wreck about 36 hours before he was found in City Lake.
According to the Hamlet Police Department, officers were conducting a traffic stop around 1:45 Sunday afternoon when they were approached and told there appeared to be a body in the lake. The officers responded and confirmed the report, then dispatched EMS.
Investigators from the department, as well as personnel from Hamlet Fire and Rescue and the Medical Examiner’s office also responded, identifying the man by his driver’s license as 29-year-old Steven Ray Bullard.
They also seized his cellphone.
Although his license had a Raeford address, police say he had recently moved to Laurel Hill.
During the investigation, police discovered that Bullard owned a blue Ford passenger car, which was not found at the scene nor at his home.
Investigators say they found a Spectrum work truck and contacted the company, when they found out that he had missed work Saturday and Sunday.
Officers executed a search warrant at his residence where they say they found a few items to assist with the investigation.
Police say a BOLO was issued for the car and they later discovered it had been involved in a wreck early Saturday morning on U.S. 74 Business near Steve’s Pizza.
According to police, a witness said the car ran into a light pole at a high rate of speed around 1:29 a.m. and that the driver staggered out of the vehicle and left the scene on foot. Officers investigating the wreck say the car had substantial front-end damage, the airbag had deployed and that they found a partially consumed open container of beer — but no driver.
“Based upon the damage to the vehicle and the witness statement at the crash scene, it appears the deceased likely sustained injuries during the crash and may have (succumbed) to said injuries at or around the lake,” Chief Tommy McMasters said in a statement issued Monday.
Police say the water is a few feet deep in the area his body was found.
The investigation is still ongoing pending the execution of a search warrant on the phone and the Medical Examiner’s report, McMasters said.
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