Minors Accused of Acid Application on Playground Equipment Resulting in Four Child Injuries

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Two minors are facing charges after acid was deliberately applied to several slides at a park in Massachusetts this past summer, leading to injuries for four children, according to Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni.

Due to legal protections surrounding their age, the identities of the minors cannot be disclosed. They have been charged with four instances of child assault and battery resulting in injury, as well as assault and battery involving a dangerous weapon and vandalism, stated Gulluni. His office did not confirm whether the accused have been taken into custody.

“Underscoring our commitment to safeguarding the children of this community, our coordinated efforts to press charges against those we deem culpable should leave no doubt that such behavior, whether intended as a jest or a malicious deed, will not be permitted,” Gulluni articulated in a late Thursday statement.

In June, emergency services, including police and firefighters, were dispatched to Bliss Park in Longmeadow following reports of an unidentified substance found on playground facilities. Concurrently, medical technicians and firefighters attended to a nearby residence where children were reported to have sustained burns shortly after leaving the park.

Ashley Thielen, the mother of the affected children, informed Western Mass News in Springfield, “I allowed my children to play on the equipment, oblivious to the liquid pooling at the slide’s base. I initially presumed it to be rainwater. However, when my one-year-old began to cry inconsolably, I realized that the liquid was something far more harmful.”

Though the exposure resulted primarily in superficial blisters and skin swelling, Thielen emphasized the potential for more severe consequences, noting, “Given the substantial quantity of the liquid that had gathered at the base of the slide, I’m amazed that the situation wasn’t graver.”

Investigations revealed that an individual had illegally gained access to a storage room connected to the park’s swimming pool, from which muriatic acid was stolen. This acid, commonly used for cleaning purposes or for regulating swimming pool pH levels, was subsequently applied to three slides in the playground, according to authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Juvenile Acid Attack on Playground

More about Juvenile Acid Attack on Playground

• [Hampden District Attorney’s Official Statement]
• [Local News Report on the Incident]
• [Legal Protections for Juvenile Offenders]
• [Safety Guidelines for Public Parks]
• [What is Muriatic Acid and its Common Uses]
• [Emergency Response Protocols]
• [Impact of Acid Burns and First Aid]