A 53-year-old woman has been taken into custody after a toddler was sprayed with an acidic substance at a Bloor West Village movie theatre on Halloween.
The attack occurred inside Humber Cinemas Theatre on Saturday afternoon as the three-year-old boy and his father waited in line for tickets.
Police previously said a female suspect walked up to the child without saying anything and sprayed a burning substance on his neck and ears.
The child was taken to hospital with minor burns but escaped serious injuries because his father was able to administer immediate first aid on him.
The woman, meanwhile, left the scene and was last seen walking eastbound on Bloor Street West.
Speaking with CP24 on Wednesday, one employee at the theatre told CP24 that the woman was carrying a large number of bags at the time of the incident and could have accidently spilled the substance on the child.
Det. Shawn Elliot, however, rejected that claim outright and told CP24 that police believe the incident was a deliberate and targeted attack.
Though the type of chemical sprayed on the child remains unclear, Elliot added that it was strong enough to burn holes in the child's clothing and the carpet.
The substance has been sent to the Centre of Forensic Sciences for examination.
"If the father didn't react the way he did, the burns would have been more substantial for sure," Elliot said.
Police identified Alverna Maria Lawrence as a person of interest in the case early Wednesday afternoon.
She was taken into custody without incident after a tip led police to The Albion Centre in Etobicoke later this afternoon.
Lawrence is now considered a suspect in the case, police said.
She will be facing number of charges, including assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon and administering a noxious substance.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1100 or Crime Stoppers at 416- 222-TIPS (8477).
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