Cops Hone In On 5 For Questioning In Splish Splash Groping

CALVERTON, NY — New details have emerged about an incident at Splish Splash in Calverton where four girls, ages 11 to 13, were groped while in the wave pool, police said.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Riverhead Town Police detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify and help locate five men wanted for questioning in connection with the forcible touching investigation.

The incident took place on Aug. 21 at 4:30 p.m. when the girls, visiting Splish Splash with the Huntington YMCA camp, were "touched inappropriately" by five to seven males in the wave pool at the water park, police said.

Following an earlier Crime Stoppers alert about the groping, Riverhead Police Department were contacted by several individuals depicted in the initial surveillance footage released.

After conducting interviews with those people, it was determined that they had no involvement in the matter and are no longer considered persons of interest, police said. Detectives would still like to speak to the five males in the above photos and video below, police said.

Christopher J. Cassar, an attorney with offices in Huntington Village and Uniondale, said the parents of the four young girls say they were "sexually assaulted," and spoke at two press events in Huntington this week, where they expressed their dissatisfaction with the investigation and what they deemed a lack of investigation by the police and Splish Splash.

The parents asked the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office to intervene and conduct the investigation, he said. The parents are also asking for the public's help in identifying the perpetrators, Cassar added.

At the second press event this week, two moms described what happened to their daughters, explaining that after the incident, the girls told their counselors, who notified security at Splish Splash. The parents allege that security escorted the accused out of the park without identifying them.

And, according to a News 12 post, police and phone records indicate that Splish Splash security did not call the Riverhead Police Department until a half hour after the mother reported it to the police – more than an hour after it took place.

At the press event this week, Cassar said the parents of the four girls are very grateful that the video has been released to the public and the hope is that someone will come forward to identify the men.

One mom said she received a call from a camp counselor, telling her that her daughter was "sexually touched in an inappropriate area." She was asked if she wanted to press charges, and she said "yes." The mom, who asked not to be identified to protect her daughter, said she asked to speak to security, who told her that they were under no obligation to take names and they did not feel that it was necessary to call the police; the men, they said, had been escorted out of the park.

The girls, at that point, were already on the bus back to camp; the mom called Riverhead Police, who told her they'd have the bus turn around and meet a police officer, she said.

The distraught mother said she drove to Riverhead where she met with Splish Splash personnel, who'd told her they had done everything required.

"I said, 'What's to stop them from coming back?'" She said she was told, "Ma'am, we can't stop anybody from going anywhere."

Outraged, the mom continued: "This is a park for young children? Is children's safety not a priority? I took my daughter home in tears."

The mom said she believes a crime was committed. Her daughter, 11, pointed out the person who'd groped her. "Nobody thought to call the cops? Nobody helped her. They just let them walk out. No one cared. No one called the police," she said.

And she questions why the camp counselors, too, did not insist that the men be detained.

Her daughter, the mom added, is having nightmares and not sleeping.

Describing what happened, she said her daughter was in the wave pool, where a buzzer sounds before the next wave hits. A friend told her daughter that a man had touched her, she said. Then, she added, the buzzer went off again, the wave came in, and "a man grabbed my daughter's chest, to the point where she had to pry his hand off of her in order for him to let go."

The men involved, the mom said, were in their 20s or 30s. "My daughter said one had gray on the side of his hair. We are not talking about young kids or young adults. These are grown men, and yet they were just escorted out of the park and not asked for ID?" she said.

The second mother said her daughter was 13; she feels there is lots of blame to go around. "No one person dropped the ball. There has to be some protocol," she said. She also said she feels the police officer was "dismissive, downplaying" the incident. "Someone should be held accountable," she said.

"The park, intentionally, does not have cameras in the wave pool area in an effort to avoid accountability for such incidents," a mother of one of the girls said, according to a News 12 report. "The wave pool is a pedophile's paradise and Splish Splash is ensuring that it stays that way."

Cassar said Splish Splash had a legal obligation to call the police. The hope right now is to identify the men and "make sure the police investigation is done thoroughly and adequately," he said.

On Friday, Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller responded: "We're taking it very seriously. We want this resolved as much as they do." He said it took some time before police were notified after the incident. "We are not being dismissive. We are not downplaying this. We all have children and none of us would want this to happen to our children," Hegermiller said.

RELATED: Girls Groped At Splish Splash; Parents Want Action

When asked why police were not notified sooner, a representative for Splish Splash responded by sending a new statement: "Splish Splash is one of the world’s finest and safest water parks," the statement read. "We are working closely with the Riverhead PD on the investigation regarding the accusations by a guest visiting on Aug. 21."

According to Gamini Perera, director of sales and marketing for Splish Splash, the guest was with her YMCA day camp when she reported to her counselor that she was touched inappropriately in the wave pool. The counselor of the Huntington YMCA group approached park staff and stated that one of her minor female campers had reported being inappropriately touched in the wave pool, he added.

"Splish Splash contracts with Titan Security and they were on scene within minutes. Titan Security interviewed the YMCA counselor and minor girl for more information," the statement said. "The girl claimed that she was inappropriately touched by a group who were playing with a soccer ball, but did not see anyone’s face to identify them. The girl was also unable to relay any information about how she was inappropriately touched."

Neither the YMCA counselor, nor any of Splish Splash’s five on duty wave pool lifeguards, saw any inappropriate behavior, Perera said. "The YMCA camp counselor was asked by Titan Security if she would like for the police to be called. The YMCA counselor declined. She also stated that the parents didn’t need to be called because they were leaving the park soon. The YMCA counselor did, however, ask that Titan Security walk with her and the complaintant girl."

In the vicinity near where the alleged incident took place a group matching the "limited description" were approached for questioning by Titan Security, Perera said.

"The YMCA counselor again emphasized that she did not want police called and that they would be unable to positively identify the group. The counselor merely requested that the park eject the young men. Titan Security complied with the YMCA counselor’s request. They escorted the young men to the lockers, watched them gather their belongings and escorted them off property without incident," he said.

And, the statement continued: "Splish Splash takes guest complaints very seriously — especially those where minors claim they have been inappropriately touched. Our team truly cares about our guests and ensuring the safest, happiest experience. In this instance, one guest made a complaint and the security team took direction from the girl’s guardian. Splish Splash and its vendor, Titan Security, acted responsibly, thoughtfully and with care. The facts did not warrant any further action."

The YMCA also spoke out on the incident.

"The YMCA of Long Island is committed to ensuring the well-being of the youths we serve, at all times. We are confident that our summer day camp staff is dedicated to caring for and protecting all children in our care. In addition, we are fully cooperating with law enforcement and cannot comment on an ongoing investigation," said Tamar Simpson, director of marketing and communications for YMCA of Long Island.

It's not the first time a groping incident has taken place at Splish Splash: In 2016, a 30-year-old man grabbed the breasts of a girl under the age of 14 in the Splish Splash wave pool, according to a Riverhead News-Review report. He pleaded guilty to sexual abuse.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, texting "SCPD" and your message to "CRIMES" (274637) or by email at www.tipsubmit.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

Surveillance photos, video courtesy SCPD. Wave pool photo of Splish Splash in a prior year by Lisa Finn.