Pubdate: Wed, 19 Oct 2016
Source: Journal-Pioneer, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2016 Journal-Pioneer
Contact:  http://www.journalpioneer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2789
Author: Colin MacLean
Page: A1

PARENTAL WARNING

Police stepping up patrols of Queen Elizabeth Park after incident
involving needle

A Summerside family is reeling this week after one of its young
members was scratched by a needle while playing at Queen Elizabeth
Park.

Ethan Skevington, 11, was playing at the baseball complex Sunday with
a group of kids when the incident occurred. He went home and told his
family what happened and was taken to hospital.

On the way to the Prince County Hospital, the family stopped at the
ball fields with the intention of retrieving the needle in case
doctors needed it.

Kim Skevington, Ethan's mom, said they found upwards of 20 needles and
various other drug paraphernalia spread around the dugouts, bleachers,
infield and even the grass of the field. They collected what they
safely could and brought it to hospital.

"I'm just disgusted - children play there," she said.

"You think these are safe areas where you're sending your kids - but
it's not. It's everywhere. It's scary, very scary now." According to
their doctor the chances of Ethan developing further health problems
are unlikely, but he will be monitored for the next several years to
make sure.

Kim said it has shocked the whole family and she wants other parents
to be aware of the incident so they can act accordingly.

One of Ethan's grandmothers wrote a Facebook post about the incident
that was already widely shared by Tuesday morning.

The Summerside Police is also responding to the incident, vowing to
pay special attention to Queen Elizabeth Park for the foreseeable future.

"We take safety security of our residents very seriously," said Deputy
Chief Sinclair Walker. "Once we were aware, city staff immediately
cleaned up and disposed of everything on site. We have asked the staff
of neighbouring schools to be on alert and to report any suspicious
activity to us immediately."

Police stressed that reports of needles being found in city parks are
uncommon, happening once or twice in the run of a year. However,
whenever a resident comes across such items they are encouraged to
contact police immediately and avoid touching it.

City parks are also cleaned less frequently in the fall season, so
people who do use the parks are warned to use some extra caution.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt