Janusz Sowa, the homeless man who is believed to have been driving the dead man’s inflatable boat while intoxicated. Photo courtesy NYPD.
A Ridgewood man drowned and another remains in police custody after a fishing trip turned into a tragedy on August 10. The body of Stanislaw Nawrocki, 57, of Ridgewood was recovered in the East Rockaway Inlet by an NYPD Harbor Patrol boat.
The accident occurred after Nawrocki, who is the owner of Mira Wines and Liquors on Forest Avenue, went fishing with a friend Janusz Sowa, 54, on an inflatable boat. Police say that Nawrocki fell overboard after Sowa, who was believed to be intoxicated, took over as the driver of the craft. Police say the man admitted having no prior experience with operating a boat.
Sowa told police he searched for his friend for approximately 90 minutes before informing people at the marina that the other man on the boat had fallen overboard. A search for Nawrocki had the NYPD, Nassau County Police and the U.S. Coast Guard working together in the search, however the body was not recovered for nearly 24 hours later.
Suspicions that Sowa was intoxicated were confirmed when a report from the Nassau County district attorney’s office, found that his blood alcohol level was .17, almost double the legal limit of .08.
Although no criminality is suspected Sowa was detained after appearing before a Nassau County judge on August 10. Bail was set at $100,000 bond or $50,000 cash.
By Natalia Kozikowska
