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
Child under 5 dies of measles in Ontario: PHO
A young child has died of measles in Ontario, marking the first death in the province from the highly contagious virus in more than 10 years, a Public Health Ontario report confirms.
NEW Pack the macaroni necklace: Lessons on evacuations from a woman who fled one of Canada's worst wildfires
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
'Ugly produce': One way Canadians are shrinking rising grocery bills
As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost.
Vatican revamps norms to evaluate visions of Mary as it adapts to Internet age and combats hoaxers
The Vatican on Friday radically reformed its process for evaluating alleged visions of the Virgin Mary, weeping statues and other seemingly supernatural phenomena, insisting on having the final say in whether the events are worthy of popular devotion.
Wildfires burning across Canada: Communities threatened as flames creep closer
Thousands of residents fled Fort McMurray this week, fearing a repeat of the 2016 wildfire that forced out the entire community and torched more than 2,400 homes.
5 secrets to moving better and preventing avoidable injury
Countless people seek emergency care for back pain, muscle strains and similar injuries resulting from “moving wrong” during mundane, everyday tasks such as bending over to tie shoes, lifting objects or doing household chores.
Zach Bryan and girlfriend Brianna Chickenfry are 'happy and alive' after 'traumatizing' car accident
Zach Bryan and his girlfriend Brianna LaPaglia were involved in a scary car accident earlier this week, according to LaPaglia, who recalled the experience in a candid video posted to her TikTok page earlier this week.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.