9 Wanted For Questioning in Splish Splash Groping

CALVERTON, NY — Police are looking to question eight males and one female in relation to the groping of four young girls at Splish Splash last week, authorities said.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Riverhead Town Police detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify a group of people wanted in connection with the "forcible touching" investigation at the Calverton water park, police said.

A group of males engaged in "unwanted physical contact" while in the wave pool on Aug. 21 at 4:30 p.m., police said. Detectives would like to speak to the nine people shown in the photos above and the video below.

The girls, ages 11 to 13, were visiting Splish Splash with the Huntington YMCA camp when they were "touched inappropriately" by five to seven males in the wave pool.

"There was an allegation of inappropriate touching," police said. "There was very little description, no video that covers the pool area, so it's very difficult to identify the subjects. No one has been identified at this time and the matter is still under investigation."

On Tuesday, the parents of the four girls called for action.

"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."

RELATED: Girls Groped At Splish Splash; Parents Want Action

A report by News 12 said after the incident, the girls told their counselors, who notified security at Splish Splash; parents allege that security escorted the accused out of the park without identifying them. And, according to the 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.

"Splish Splash takes safety very seriously. We are aware of the incident and are working with the Riverhead Police Department," said Gamini Perera, director of marketing at Splish Splash.

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.

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.