Aspirins Found on Irvine Park Playground

Irvine police have again found aspirin tablets scattered in the playground sand at a neighborhood park, officials said Friday.

Thursday’s incident is the fourth time since March that pills have been found in play areas, said Police Cmdr. Jeff Kermode.

Two piles of painkillers -- about 20 aspirin in all -- were found at Racquet Club Park in the 4000 block of Robon Drive, Kermode said, by a mother who took her child to play there.

One pile had been placed near a slide.

Kermode said police don’t believe this case is connected to April incidents in which aspirin and buried nails were discovered in two parks, or the aspirin-filled Easter eggs found in March at another park.

“All [the incidents] have been very different,” he said. “Other than painkillers and parks, we don’t have any connection.”

No suspects have been established in any of the cases, but investigations are ongoing.

Kermode encouraged parents to exercise caution when taking their children to public play areas.

Everyone should “just give things a once-over before they let their kids go out and play in those areas,” he said.

Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to call police at

(949) 724-7200.