Drug Victim Found Dead in Encino Garage

A 28-year-old man was found dead in a vacant building in Encino on Monday, an apparent victim of a heroin overdose, Los Angeles police said.

The victim, whose identity was withheld until his family could be notified, was found about 8:30 a.m. by a man who is leasing the building, a garage being remodeled in the 17500 block of Ventura Boulevard, Detective Stan Miller said. Miller said the victim had lived in Tarzana.

A friend of the dead man told police that he and the victim were in the building Sunday night under the influence of heroin. He said that, unknown to the owner or leaseholder, they had been staying in the building, the detective said.

The friend told police he left the building during the night and thought the victim had fallen asleep, Miller said. The friend, who police would not identify, was questioned but not arrested, Miller said.