Laurie K. Blandford

laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com

FORT PIERCE — Police officers have stepped up patrols at a local elementary school after a 5-year-old boy was found chewing on a used condom, according to a police report.

Police went to St. Lucie Elementary School, 2020 S. 13th St., about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday after school security reported a suspicious incident, according to the report.

Kindergarten students were playing outside on the playground earlier Wednesday when a homeroom teacher noticed a 5-year-old boy chewing on what turned out to be a used condom he found on the ground, according to the report.

The used condom immediately was removed from the boy’s mouth, and his mother was notified, according to the report. His mother took him to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute for observation, but he was fine.

“It’s pretty clear that someone was likely having sex there or near there, or (it’s) a possible prostitution issue,” said Ed Cunningham, public information officer for the Police Department, “but we are not aware of any specifics.”

Officers patrolling the area are on alert for people lurking near the school, Cunningham said.

School security said this wasn’t the first time similar items had been removed from the playground, according to the report.

Police officers haven’t received similar calls recently at any schools or playgrounds, Cunningham said. They were called this time because a child was chewing the used condom.

“This appears to be an isolated incident,” Cunningham said, “but if anyone sees people having sex in public or anything similar, they should call 911.”