WATERVILLE – Police say a maintenance worker discovered heroin on the ground behind a building that serves students in the Head Start program in Waterville.

Maintenance worker Jeff Paquette said he found the packets of heroin – nine in all – in a back parking lot where neighborhood children play.

At first, he didn’t realize what he’d discovered. He brought the bags, stamped “Blue Magic,” inside and an Internet search revealed “Blue Magic” is a term for heroin.

Deputy Police Chief Charles Rumsey said Paquette’s discovery could have saved a life. He said a child could have been injured or killed if the heroin were ingested.