Two children hurt after corrosive substance placed on public toilet seats in Baden, Ont. park
Two young children were hurt after a corrosive substance that police believe came from batteries was deliberately placed on toilet seats inside a public washroom in Baden, Ont.
Investigators believe the toilet seats at Sir Adam Beck Community Park were tampered with sometime between Saturday, May 6 and Monday, May 8.
They’re looking for leads after two children, aged three and six, were injured using the public washroom.
“It is quite concerning,” Waterloo regional police Const. André Johnson said. “I know the families of these young children were quite distressed at what had occurred, and again, we do believe that this was intentional.”
Johnson said after a visit to the doctor, the children will be OK, but police are looking for any dashcam video or other evidence to help identify a suspect.
“You know, I think this goes beyond just your vandalism, some graffiti and stuff like that. This is quite serious, and we are treating it as such,” Johnson said.
Park groundskeeper Don “Cubby” Culbert says damage and vandalism at the park are commonplace.
“Graffiti is unbelievable over here. I don't know how many times Wilmot staff has been over here, toilets are destroyed,” Culbert said. “They'll take hand dispensers – the soap dispensers – tear them off the wall, throw them out the door.”
He says the latest incident is discouraging but not surprising.
“Of all the damage that's been over here over the years, on top of the rooves, on top of the batting cages, top of the backstops, the washrooms over here at the picnic shelter what they do and that is no surprise whatever goes on over here,” he said.
“It's multiple choice, I think, whatever their choice is for that day, that's how it goes.”
Wilmot Mayor Natasha Salonen was not available for an interview Friday but provided this statement to CTV News: "There was an incident involving potential vandalism in one of the township's park facilities. The matter was reported to police and it is an ongoing investigation."
There don’t appear to be cameras in the park.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Robert Pickton to remain in medically induced coma until later this week: police
Serial killer Robert Pickton will remain in a medically induced coma for at least the next few days following an attack in a Quebec prison Sunday, according to police spokesperson Hugues Beaulieu.
Poverty report cards: Which provinces got the worst grades?
Poverty and food insecurity have worsened in most of Canada in the past year and most provincial governments aren't doing enough to address the problem, according to a just-released series of report cards.
'I feel betrayed': Ottawa-area customers out thousands of dollars warn of bad faith contractor
A group of people from eastern Ontario and western Quebec is issuing a warning about Dennis Walker and his company Vue Windows.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
'Five feet nothing': Pickton's safety likely behind Quebec transfer, says ex-prison judge
When serial killer Robert Pickton was transferred from British Columbia's Kent Institution to a maximum security prison in Quebec about six years ago, correctional authorities gave no public explanation or confirmation at the time, citing privacy.
Trudeau's speech to union delegates took aim at Conservatives
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's trip to the United States targeted U.S. lawmakers, but also his political opponents in Canada, as his speech to one of the largest unions in North America attempted to make the case that his party cares more about workers’ rights than Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives.
Woman found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017 matches identity of missing person in Switzerland
Genetic genealogy has helped Toronto police identify a woman who was found dead in Lake Ontario in 2017.
Sheldon Keefe hired as head coach of New Jersey Devils
Sheldon Keefe has been hired as the head coach of the New Jersey Devils.
Disgruntled worker fatally shoots 2, wounds 3 at linen company near Philadelphia
A disgruntled employee opened fire at a linen company near Philadelphia on Wednesday, killing two coworkers and injuring three others, authorities said.