Police are investigating the death of a 44-year-old man found in a front yard in Sandy.

The body of Michael Hoffman Jr., of Salt Lake City, was found by police outside a rental home near 8000 S. 1300 East at about midnight Sunday.

Sandy police Sgt. Jason Nielsen said Monday that the renter, who is a friend of Hoffman, called 911.

Police consider the death suspicious and are investigating it as a homicide, Nielsen said, although he emphasized that is standard procedure whenever a body is found in an unusual manner. A medical examiner will need to determine how Hoffman died.

Police received a search warrant to enter the home Monday morning and looked for evidence there. Detectives also were looking for the roommate of the person who called 911, Nielsen said.

The Salt Lake Tribune will update this story as more information becomes available.