Player’s father a suspect in tainted water jug

Monday, Nov. 20, 2000 | 11:58 a.m.

Metro Police detectives suspect the father of a youth football team member may be responsible for contaminating the team's water, which resulted in eight children becoming violently ill.

A toxicology report showed traces of ipecac in the water jug that a Nevada Youth Football League team was using at a Tuesday night practice at Willow Park, off Hualapai Way.

Ipecac, a plant extract that when swallowed induces vomiting, is generally used to force poison out of a person's system.

Five of the children who drank the water were taken to University Medical Center for treatment, and three others who drank from the jug were taken to MountainView Hospital. All of the children were treated and released from the hospitals.

Detectives originally focused their investigation on the suspect's son. After completing interviews, the father has become the main suspect.

Felony charges of poisoning or altering food or water could be brought against the father, once the case is submitted to the district attorney's office, which will decide if prosecuting the case is warranted.

The Nevada Youth Football League has teams for children ages 7 to 15. The players who were sick Tuesday were in the 12 to 14 age group.