Riverhead police probe groping allegations at Splish Splash

The Riverhead Town police chief said his department is investigating allegations that as many as four preteen girls were “inappropriately touched” by at least two men on Tuesday in the wave pool at Splish Splash Water Park in Calverton.

The girls, campers from the Huntington YMCA, said the unidentified men groped them, Police Chief David Hegermiller said.

After a camp counselor alerted Splish Splash security, Hegermiller said, park officers ushered the men out of the facility without taking their names.

The parent of one girl called Riverhead police at 6 p.m. Tuesday to report the incident while the parents of three other girls came forward later to report similar allegations, Hegermiller said.

“It’s a difficult case,” the chief said, “because of a lack of evidence and the lack of an ability to identify somebody. We hope to find some video or other evidence to move this case along.”

Said Gamini Perera, director of marketing at the water park, “Splish Splash takes safety very seriously. We are aware of the incident and are working with Riverhead Police Department.”

An official with the YMCA of Long Island said the organization is “fully cooperating” with law enforcement but otherwise declined to comment about the allegations.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.