Aspirins Found at Two O.C. Parks

Scores of aspirins were discovered piled near play areas at two south Orange County parks Thursday, prompting a daylong search that revealed more than 30 roofing nails buried under slides and swings at one of the parks.

In Aliso Viejo and Irvine, small piles of high-strength aspirin were found near play areas. The 1 1/2-inch nails were found buried in the groundcover under playground equipment at the Irvine park.

The brand and potency of the aspirin were the same in both cases, investigators said.

A mother who took her child to Ridgecrest Park in Aliso Viejo about 10 a.m. Thursday discovered three piles of Bayer extra-strength Back and Body caplets around playground equipment.

The aspirins were in piles of about 20 each, said Jim Amormino, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Park crews were called to search the grounds, and they found several more pills in a trashcan, Amormino said.

There was no indication that a child had ingested any of the aspirins.

Later in the day, several grade-school boys discovered a scattering of about 40 aspirins while playing at a greenbelt on Mandrake Street in Irvine’s University Park community, said Irvine Police Lt. Jeff Love.

Police searched the park and said they had found the nails in a playground area.

The discoveries set off park searches throughout south Orange County.

No arrests were made.

On March 3, a nanny found 10 multicolored toy Easter eggs containing jellybeans and a handful of extra-strength aspirin tablets at a private recreation area in Irvine’s Northpark Square. The first egg found was scooped up by a toddler.

After that discovery, doctors and health officials said 10 aspirins ingested by a child could cause life-threatening symptoms, including seizures and severe brain swelling.