Police: Syringe found in stuffed animal - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Families are turning out to enjoy the ArkLaMiss Fair.

"We brought the kids out. Just letting them ride and have fun," a parent said.

But for one Jackson Parish family the fun ended shortly after they left the amusement park.

"We did receive a call in reference to a syringe being found in a stuffed animal," Monroe Police Spokesperson Tarra Smith said.

Smith with Monroe Police said it isn't known if the syringe is drug related. It's been sent off to a crime lab and the results are not back. And with the new developments parents are now on alert.

"We don't normally play many games, but we'll throw darts and stuff like that. But it kind of shocks me that you would find a syringe in something like that," a parent said.

According to police, it all happened last Friday evening. A young girl took home one of the stuffed animals and found the shocking discovery inside of it. The cap was covering the needle, police said. Therefore, the child was not injured. Now, fair workers are hoping other families won't be too quick to judge.

"I don't know who would possibly put a syringe in a stuffed animal," Fair worker Brandon Schmid said. "It makes no sense at all. That makes the rest of us look bad and we're all good people."

Belle City Amusement management, running the fair, were not available for any comments. However, police are hoping you beef up your safety measures.

"When you are getting the candy, you would inspect that, inspect the stuffed animals the kids are receiving at the fair as well," Smith said.

We reached out to the victim's family, but they did not return our phone calls.