Contaminated Flutes From Bower's Kidseum To Santa Ana Police

SANTA ANA, CA — More information was released in the contaminated flute collection which had schools sending messages to students after across Orange County. Bower's Kidseum sponsored a Do it Youself "Recorder" class that unwittingly may have introduced a "bodily fluid" that contaminated the flute, according to an ongoing investigation between the California State Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Santa Ana police are actively collecting the colorful recorders that may have been exposed to semen, according to reports. It is not yet clear if Santa Ana Police is the lone agency collecting those flutes/recorders.

"A recorder is a wooden flute-like musical instrument used by children," Santa Ana Sgt. Anthony Bertagna said in release.

Based on information provided by the Attorney General and Postal Inspectors, the Santa Ana Police Department was able to identify approximately 55 children that took a musical class at Bower’s Kidseum on June 27, June 28, or July 22, 2017.

"The classes were taught by an independent contractor, not employed by Bower’s Kidseum, who is not being identified at this time," Bertagna said.

At least three Orange County school districts have been involved in the search for the contaminated flutes. Parents were advised Friday to place those flutes inside a plastic bag and to stop playing with them immediately, according to a letter Patch attained from Capistrano Unified School District.

The Kidseum is a "kid-centric extension of the Bowers Museum offers art & cultural programs for children & families," according to the museum website. It is located on Main and 17th streets, and is popular for summer kid-friendly programs. It also conducts after school programs for area children. Patch is actively attempting to contact a Bower's Museum spokesperson for comment.

Detectives from the Santa Ana Police Department’s Special Crimes Unit are actively attempting contact with the parents of each child.

The detectives have already contacted most parents and 11 recorders have been collected at this point. The Special Crimes Unit continues to pursue all investigative leads within the City’s jurisdiction.

Anyone who has or knows of a child that attended a musical class at Bower’s Kidseum on the above dates, or may be in possession of a recorder distributed during those classes, is asked to contact Detective Perez as soon as possible at (714) 245-8351.

Capistrano Unified School District Photo