Pubdate: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 Source: Chronicle Herald (CN NS) Copyright: 2008 The Halifax Herald Limited Contact: http://thechronicleherald.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/180 Author: Laura Fraser Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis) NEW BLOODY NEEDLES FOUND Cops Not Testing Syringes Found Wedged Point Up In New Waterford Park Bench NEW WATERFORD - Two fresh needles coated in blood were found embedded upright in a park bench this weekend, barely 24 hours after police picked up seven syringes in the area. Cape Breton Regional Police believe the angle of the hypodermic needles discovered at Colliery Lands Park suggests malicious intent, a spokesman for the force said Monday. And this type of random attack could have deadly consequences if the needles were tainted with disease, Const. Gary Fraser said. "The creepiness is what's bothering everyone about this," Const. Fraser said. "If (the perpetrator) is an IV drug user and they know they have (a) disease, then they know they could be harming innocent people." None of the nine needles found Friday and Saturday were going to be tested for HIV or other infectious diseases. Instead, police said anyone who might have been pricked by a needle should see his or her family doctor. No one has reported being stuck by a needle, the officer said. Blood-borne diseases like HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C can be transmitted by needle. If someone is stuck by a needle, there is the risk of being exposed to another person's blood, according to the website for the Simcoe Muskoka district health unit in Ontario. If the original needle user was infected with a blood-borne disease, there is a chance it could be spread to someone else. Police found seven needles Friday after a New Waterford resident called in and said she saw some of them sticking out of a bench. Police did a sweep of the park and found that most of the needles had been wedged into the benches so that they would stab anyone who sat down. Const. Fraser found two more needles Saturday. This time, the needles had blood on them. Street drugs are still widely available in the community, said Frankie Morrison, the regional councillor for New Waterford. But although park workers "quite often" find discarded needles, Mr. Morrison said the recent police discovery is "a brand new ball game." The councillor said he has never before heard of people leaving behind syringes with the intention of harming someone. Local parents of young addicts have been trying to get support from the province and Ottawa for a youth detox centre in Cape Breton, but it's a slow process, the councillor said. And unless people get clean, police will keep finding syringes. "It's pretty impossible to catch people at it," Mr. Morrison said. "You'd have to keep a policeman at every corner, every park. We all know the kids go down there." New Waterford resident Colleen MacDonald said she still feels safe walking outside, but she's shocked someone would try to hurt others at random. "It poses a threat not only to children, but to everyone." Police are increasing their patrols in Colliery Lands Park and the surrounding neighbourhoods. No arrests had been made by late Monday. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath