Police in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, are investigating an incident from over the weekend where two children were left injured after a “suspicious substance” was left on a playground in the city.
On Sunday morning, Longmeadow Fire and Police departments responded to the park where investigators found hazardous chemicals, which left the two children with burn-like injuries.
The chemical was identified as muriatic acid, a chemical often used to clean bacteria from pools. The acid was present on three slides at the playground.
The incident is now being investigated by the two departments along with the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab, and other state agencies.
Ashley Thielen spoke with KGNS about the incident, sharing that she brought her kids to Bliss Park on what seemed like a normal Sunday. However, when her kids ran up to her in tears she realized something happened.
“We got there probably 8:15 yesterday morning, so we were the first ones there, I think,” Thielen said. “I let the kids go play. I didn’t notice that there was liquid to collect at the bottom of the slide. I just assumed it was rainwater. I didn’t really think much of it, and then, my baby, who is 1, just started crying. That was when I knew this liquid that they were around wasn’t water.”
Photos of the children’s injuries, obtained by WGGB, showed that the kids had swollen legs covered in blisters after sliding through the chemical.
The wounds are mostly superficial, but Thielen said that her kids are ok and that the situation could have been worse than it was.
“The thing that he always does is, with our water table, is he dips his whole face into it, so I’m actually surprised he didn’t do that because the bottom of the slide, where it was, there was a good amount of it collected there,” Thielen said. “I was surprised he didn’t start splashing in it.”
So far, the investigation from Longmeadow police has led to the discovery of what appeared to be a break-in to the pump room at the pool located directly behind the playground. It is believed that the chemicals were taken from the pump room.
“They were able to scale a couple of fences, then they gained access into the door into the chemical area,” Longmeadow Police Captain Carl Mazzaferro said.
The Longmeadow Fire Department shared that evidence collected will be sent to the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab for forensic analysis.
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