Soldotna police are warning parents to pay close attention to their kid’s Halloween candy after a Soldotna teen found a razor blade and small screw in a box of candy last Friday.
A parent met with Soldotna police Wednesday after their 13-year-old found a three quarter inch by one quarter inch razor blade and a small screw inside a package of Nerds candy the teen obtained sometime after 7 p.m. Halloween night in Soldotna, according to a Soldotna Police press release.
The razor blade and screw inside the box were found before the candy was consumed and the parents reported the incident to police. Soldotna Police Chief Peter Mlynarik said it is unknown exactly where the candy was received but it is believed to be in the area near the 200 and 300 blocks between Central Peninsula Hospital and Soldotna High School.
Mlynarik said this is the first case his department has received. The case is under investigation.
One of the questions is if the box was sealed or tampered with. The chance of the metal pieces ending up in the candy box as part of a manufacturer error is remote, he said.
“A screw and razor did not get in the box accidently,” he said. “We don’t want to see any children get injured. It’s important to check their candy for the rare occurrence and be aware if a package looks suspicious.”
Police in other parts of the country have received similar reports of razor blades found in Halloween candy.
A razor blade was found in a Tootsie Roll package in Vineland New Jersey, according to philly.com. Two razor blades were found in a candy bar package in Umatilla, Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel. A razor blade was also found in a Twix candy bar in Maiden, North Carolina, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Kenai Police Chief Gus Sandahl said they have not received any reports of metal found in Halloween candy.
Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com
