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Metal spikes reportedly placed at the bottom of slides at Le Roy playground

By Howard B. Owens

UPDATED 11:01 a.m. with information on origin of the spikes.

Parents who took their children yesterday to the Wildwood Park Playground in Le Roy discovered a potentially dangerous situation when they noticed four-inch metal spikes placed at the bottom of slides.

No children were reported injured by the spikes.

A total of three spikes, partially buried in the sand, were located, according to Le Roy PD.

The spikes appear to be the type used to anchor a rubber plate for a pitcher's mound and appear to have come from a nearby baseball field, Det. John Condidorio said.

"We do believe we know the origin of the spikes," Condidorio said. "We simply don't know who removed them and placed them in such a dangerous location."

The park is located on Munson Street Extension.

The mothers checked the rest of the playground and discovered no additional foreign objects.

Le Roy PD with the assistance of Village of Le Roy DPW used metal detectors to check all of the playgrounds in Le Roy and no other dangerous objects were found.

Investigators are looking for further information related to the incident and anyone with information is asked to call 345-6350.

jennifer brown

Someone also placed nails with square metal pieces to ensure the nails sstayed upright in the trail off route 98 in Elba, located next to the yellow Goose. I guess the neighbor doesnt like to hear the go karts and dirt bikes that go down a trail by his house so he is going to get retaliation somehow. Funny thing is he doesnt even own the property!!!

Aug 9, 2012, 8:36am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

That's just unfathomable. How could someone even think about hurting kids like that? I want this person caught and revealed, badly. WTF are you thinking? Do we need surveillance cameras everywhere now?

Aug 9, 2012, 9:16am Permalink
Irene Will

that's not even just MISCHIEF - - that's assault with a deadly weapon !!!!! What kind of person would even THINK of doing something like that ???? I HOPE they CATCH them - and PUNISH them - no plea bargains on THIS. SHAME on them.

Aug 9, 2012, 9:35am Permalink
Mark Brudz

Actually Irene, that could fall under attempted murder or even a terrorism charge, this is really serious stuff.

Assuming a 40# child, that spike would be the equivalent of impailing an adult with a chainlink fence post.

Aug 9, 2012, 9:40am Permalink
Debra Nanni

The worst thing is this was thought out and it took some time to place them there. Not like a kid flippantly tossing a nail into a sandbox or something. Whoever did this had a mind that was consciously working toward hurting someone badly. This is horrendous. If and when this person is caught, I hope this amounts to a serious crime with fitting punishment.

Aug 9, 2012, 9:51am Permalink
Debra Nanni

It could have been a child that did this. ANd if it WAS, I hope they are caught and dealt with severly. Any child who would take the time to construct and plan out something like this , has a mind that will only work toward worse and MORE heinous crimes. THis would NOT be normal kids play.

Aug 9, 2012, 10:06am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Unless the child looked this up on the internet I'm thinking this was done by an older child that was beyond an age that uses slides. This is not of common construction so taking that into consideration is a factor.

Aug 9, 2012, 10:30am Permalink
Lori Silvernail

I've never seen a spike like that. If it is something relatively uncommon, maybe knowing where someone would have found them to use could lead to the perpetrator. A HUGE reward should be offered to see if someone squeals like a pig. I highly doubt a single individual did this, it was probably a couple of them working together (at least one to do this and one as a lookout).

All that said, I wish they could be charged with attempted murder. They KNEW that only children use a slide and that a 4" spike could kill someone small. As I said on my cousin's Facebook page, I wish that when they found the person, they'd shove those 4" spikes into their eye sockets, up their a*s, and if it's a male... the other obvious place. What a despicable act

Aug 9, 2012, 10:40am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

That spike looks like something that might have been used on the base of tent post, such as a circus tent, to prevent the post from sliding around.

Aug 9, 2012, 11:41am Permalink
Mark Brudz

Then the child should be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible, when and if this person is caught, a clear example must be set that this can not be tolerated.

## The recent update pretty much indicates to me that it is likely a teen or teens that did this. Doesn't change my view of what would be an appropriate response though.

Aug 9, 2012, 11:50am Permalink
Tom Frew

I think its great that people are made aware of this. At the same time, it shouldn't be overcommunicated and a significant public forum. This only fuels the sick mind with sensationalism and "5 minutes of fame" which is probably the sole intent of doing this foolish thing. Let it rest.

Aug 9, 2012, 1:20pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

Regardless of the perpetrator’s age and identity; this is the creation of a sick-self-centered poltroon who should be dealt with as publically harshly as the law allows.

Aug 9, 2012, 4:03pm Permalink
Jeff Allen

When the perps are caught, they should be turned over to Officer Jason Davis of the BPD. I'm certain he could come up with a creative and just punishment.

Aug 10, 2012, 8:17am Permalink

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