CBS4 asks Otero County Sheriff's Office for details about Chaparral death investigation

CHAPARRAL, N.M. (CBS4) — CBS4 is searching for answers from the Otero County Sheriff's Office after a body was found in the back of a vehicle at a towing facility in Chaparral.

Dash camera video and 911 call audio from New Mexico State Police detail what lead up to law enforcement's discovery of a body.

On Nov. 21, police responded to a call at a residence near the tow yard after someone claimed they had spotted a body in the back of a vehicle.

RECOMMENDED: Human remains found inside vehicle in Chaparral

911 Dispatch: "New Mexico State Police, how can I help you?"

Caller: "Yes I have a big problem. A man and a girl came over to one of the tenants that we have there and told them that they had killed somebody and they had them in the car. Ok, the car is there on my property right now."

The woman who made the call said the Otero County's Sheriff's Office (OCSO) had already come to inspect the vehicle the night before but, she said without a warrant or probable cause they could not open it up.

Caller: "The two people that supposedly did whatever they did, they let em' go last night. They didn’t do nothing, there’s no report. There’s nothing and I’m like they’re just gonna leave the car there with maybe a body in there?"

911 Dispatch: "Ok ma’am we’re gonna have someone head over there right away.”

Dash camera video shows an NMSP officer and OCSO deputies near a green SUV at the towing yard. In the video, you can hear authorities while investigating and reacting to a foul odor which they believe was sewage.

NMSP Officer: "That duffle bag right there but you can’t really see into it but, I mean it would have to be a really small person. I mean there’s a foul odor but it’s like sewage. Yeah.”

OCSO Deputy: "Don’t confuse the sewer line that’s leaking over there for a dead body"

Tenant: "Make sure there’s no dead body in it. If there is get it out of here."

OCSO Deputy: "You want us to get it out of here? Why you calling state police when we already dealt with it?"

The OCSO deputy claimed they dealt with the situation when the body was actually inside the vehicle the whole time and was hidden under a pile of clothes.

The tenant then pleaded with deputies about what was inside the vehicle.

Tenant: "So according to the people they had another, they have a dead body in there."

OCSO Deputy: "There's no dead body in there."

Tenant: "According to them."

OCSO Deputy: "We were here last night. You think we would've left it there was a dead body in there?"

Law enforcement officials left the scene. Police made their discovery of a body inside a vehicle at the towing yard 16 days later.

On Thursday, CBS4 asked the Otero County Sheriff's Office if the responding officers requested a warrant for the vehicle and if the investigation went further than what was shown in the dash cam video. CBS4 also

inquired about how the Sheriff's office is responding to the actions seen in the video.

CBS4 Reporter Lianna Golden tried calling and emailing Otero County Sheriff David Black himself, but she continuously was sent to voicemail.

After several attempts, CBS4 crews on Friday went to OCSO Headquarters in Alamogordo, New Mexico, looking for the sheriff.

Golden was told he was not in the office and out on assignment, but that would he would be back.

Golden waited until the sun went down and the building closed to try and talk to him, but he never showed up.

Golden was told the sheriff was given her contact information, but he has yet to provide any comment or response on the video.

CBS4 also contacted the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque to find out the cause of death.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

RECOMMENDED: Woman claims she was beaten by El Paso police officer following crash in westside

Sign up to receive the topmost interesting stories from in and around our community once a day to your inbox.