Parents find metal objects in Halloween candy

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - It was anything but a treat this Halloween for some central Indiana kids.

Police are investigating two cases of tainted treats.

One was found by a family who trick-or-treated in Columbus between the 800 and 2000 blocks of Lafayette Avenue and Washington Street.

The other was found in candy handed out in Heartland Crossing in Morgan County.

24-Hour News 8 went to both places looking for an explanation.

Both in Columbus and in Camby, parents say they found metal objects stuck inside a piece of Halloween candy.

For one mom, it was staple. The other: a sewing needle.

“I threw all their candy away; you can’t trust it,” said Andrea Clampitt.

Clampitt says she took her kids trick or treating in Heartland Crossings Wednesday.

When she went to go get a piece of her son’s candy later, she says she found something stuck inside.

“I picked up a KitKat, and I felt something pokey,” she explained. “I saw there was a hole, and then something metal poking out halfway.”

A sewing needle, she says, straight through the candy her son could have eaten.

“We checked their candy last night, didn’t see nothing. It just made me think, what if one of them would have eaten some last night, and got hurt?”

It's a similar story in Columbus. A mother told police her five year old son found this flattened metal staple, inside an orange tootsie roll.

“That's concerning because it shows an intent,” said Lt. Matt Myers with Columbus PD. “It doesn’t look like the staple was packaged from the manufacturer. This looks like something that would be intentional.”

The Hampton family trick or treated in the same neighborhood in Columbus.

“That worries us, it's becoming so bad. Stuff like that found in candy for kids, on a day they're supposed to have fun, they shouldn’t have to worry about that,” said Justin Hampton.

And as for Andrea Clampitt, she says she's not taking any more chances.

“We're not going back trick or treating any more. I can't risk any of them. They're not replaceable,” she said.

Mooresville Schools sent out an email to parents about the incident.

Police say these incidents come as an important reminder, no matter where you live, check any piece of candy before your child – or anyone for that matter, eats it.