Teen charged after body of 33-year-old found near Brockville park

A 15-year-old Brockville youth is facing a handful of charges in the death of Damian Sobieraj at Hardy Park.

The youth, who cannot be named, is set to appear in court Tuesday, facing charges of manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death, obstruct police, and assault.

On the evening of Thursday, September 13, shortly after 10:30 p.m., Brockville Police received a 911 call from an unidentified man, indicating he was in an altercation at Hardy Park with a group of young people.  

Before 911 operators could get the caller's name and location, the call was dropped and communication was lost. 

Officers responding to the scene stopped a few people leaving the park, who indicated they knew nothing of the call.  

Police were later able to identify the caller by obtaining subscriber information from the caller's phone.  

With the assistance of the Brockville Police K9 Unit, the entire park was searched and no one else was found in the park, except Sobieraj's dog, Rosie.  

The following day, with the assistance of the OPP Underwater Search & Rescue Unit, the body of Sobieraj, 33, was located in the river a short distance from the shoreline of Hardy Park.  

Since that time, four members of the Detective office of the Brockville Police Service have been working full time on the investigation, resulting in Tuesday's arrest.

From the beginning of the investigation, the victim's family has been in constant contact with the investigative team and updated on the progress of the investigation.  

At this time, the family is dealing with the tragic loss of a loved one, and police ask that their privacy be respected.