Panhandler Found Dead in Car With Hundreds of Dollars and Half Pound of Heroin

Yakima Police have warned people for years not to give directly to panhandlers saying many aren't actually homeless. Police say the recent death of a well known panhandler is proof. Capt. Rod Light says 56 year old Douglas Budd, a well known panhandler that worked the area of First Street and Nob Hill was found dead in his car on East Yakima Avenue Tuesday. Light says the man died of a drug overdose. He says officers found a lot of cash and drugs in the Budd's vehicle. Officers found a 1700 dollars in cash and a half pound of heroin with a street value of more than 82 thousand dollars.

Officers were called to the scene after someone saw Budd in the car. A needle was still in his arm when he was found by officers.