Two children, including a one-year-old, sustained burn-like injuries while playing on a slide at Bliss Park Playground in western Massachusetts.
The Longmeadow Fire Department responded to a call from a concerned mother who noticed the injuries on her children after they had used the slide on the morning of June 11.
Upon initial investigation, authorities discovered that an individual had forcibly entered a basement pump room, which stores the chemicals necessary for the operation of the park pool. The intruder had scaled two fences and gained access through a ventilation shaft.
It was determined that muriatic acid, a diluted form of hydrochloric acid commonly used for pool cleaning, had been stolen and subsequently poured onto three slides in the park.
Muriatic acid is known to cause burns with prolonged contact, and its presence on the slides led to the unfortunate injuries suffered by the children.
The mother, Ashley Thielen, said in an interview that she mistook the liquid collected at the bottom of the slide for rainwater. She expressed surprise that her one-year-old did not exhibit his usual behavior of splashing in the liquid, considering his tendency to dip his face into water tables.
Law enforcement officials noted that significant effort had been exerted by the perpetrator to access the acid, which had been appropriately stored in a secure area designated for pool chemicals. They speculated that the suspect might have sustained acid burns on their hands or arms and that their clothing might exhibit signs of degradation due to contact with the corrosive substance.
Authorities have gathered various pieces of evidence from the scene, which have been sent to a crime lab for forensic analysis and fingerprinting. As a precautionary measure, the playground area will remain fenced off while a thorough cleaning of all surfaces is conducted. The Longmeadow Police Department has also increased patrols around Bliss Park to ensure public safety.
