How reporting the finding of tin can lids in a children’s park led to an arrest

In August, east end investigators were alerted to someone repeatedly planting tin can lids in the sand at a children’s park in Heatherington. It was suspected this was being done with the intent to injure children playing at the park. Thanks to timely reporting, police caught and charged the person responsible before anyone was harmed.

On August 14, 2019 the City of Ottawa received complaints from residents about sharp tin can lids being placed in the sand at the base of slides, stairs and ladders in a park on Heatherington Road.

City workers found seven lids. They returned the next day and found nine more and reported it to police.

There wasn’t much to go on, but continued reporting enabled police to increase patrols in the area. When more lids were found on August 16 and 19, investigators had a plain-clothes officer conduct surveillance.

On August 20, officers arrested a 32 year old man for ‘traps likely to cause harm’ and ‘mischief endangering life’ under the Criminal Code of Canada. The man was also charged with theft for an unrelated incident that was discovered as part of the investigation.

Not sure how to report? Many incidents can be reported online after the fact, but to notify police immediately, call us at 613-236-1222 and for crimes in progress or life-threatening situations, call 911.