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Man Discovers Dead Body With 'Lacerations' While Walking In Long Island Park

GREENLAWN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found in a park on Long Island.

The body was discovered at about 7 a.m. Saturday in Greenlawn Memorial Park in the hamlet of Greenlawn. 

They say the body had "significant lacerations.''

Mike Matassa was taking his morning walk with his dog, Sunny, through the baseball fields of the park around 6:45 a.m. when he was taken aback by an unusual sight under a tree.

"He was on the other side of the fence, maybe 50 feet away and he wasn't moving naturally," he recalled.

The Suffolk County police are now investigating that man's dead body as a homicide, CBS2's Ali Bauman reported. They said the body had severe cuts and slashes.

"I thought the guy just had a rough night and was nursing his hangover because his legs were crossed and it didn't look like he was in pain or anything," Matassa said.

Within a half hour, another dog owner called the police. That man flagged down a passing motorist to call 911. Second precinct patrol officers responded and contacted the homicide squad, CBS2 reported.

Police have yet to determine how long the body had been lying on the edge of the popular little league field.

The county medical examiner's office will determine the cause of death.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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