NILES — Police believe a man suspected to have gone missing near the Dowagiac River last week has been located, according to the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department.

Nineteen members of the sheriff’s department and Niles City and Niles Township fire departments were searching the heavy wooded area along the Dowagiac River Saturday when they located the body of a deceased male.

Garren Collins, 47, of Niles, was reported missing at 6:30 a.m. June 9. He was described as 6-foot 2-inch tall white male with brown hair, brown eyes and a goatee, weighing approximately 265 pounds. He resided at Riverfront Park Campground at 1701 Pucker Street in Niles Township.

Based on this description and other information provided by family to investigators, police believe the body discovered Saturday is Collins’.

The body was located in thick woods and brush, and was approximately 100 yards from the Dowagiac River.

Police say they were no obvious signs of foul play.

The sheriff’s department and personnel from the Western Michigan University Homer R. Stryker School of Medicine’s Medical Examiner’s Office processed the scene and body for potential evidence, which may help to determine the cause of death.

The body was transported to WMU’s Homer R. Stryker’s Medical Examiner’s Office, and an autopsy was scheduled for Sunday to positively identify the body. Results were unavailable as of press time.