Authorities in Prescott Valley are ramping up efforts to apprehend a suspect responsible for a string of crimes, including a costly blaze at a luxury apartment complex and vandalism at a local high school. A substantial bounty of $50,000 has been posted for any information leading to the arrest of the alleged arsonist and vandal, whose actions have led to over $60 million in damages. The fires, which erupted on April 1 at the Legado Luxury apartments, were accompanied by a separate break-in at Bradshaw Mountain High School between March 29-31, causing an additional $60K in property damage, as FOX 10 Phoenix reported.
In a quick response to the escalating situation, the police released images of the suspect, caught on camera dressed in black from head to toe, including gloves and boots, donning a facemask which might have been rigged with a camera to possibly record the crimes. "The suspect appears to be the same individual suspected in the recent arsons at the Legado Apartments and the Bradshaw Mountain High School," police stated according to FOX 10 Phoenix. This leads authorities to believe the same person could also be tied to graffiti attacks staged against a trio of businesses on March 10.
Prescott Valley Police Chief Bob Ticer spearheads a task force urgently seeking to bring the suspect to justice. After an electrical fire near Bradshaw Mountain High School's premises earlier on Thursday, Superintendent Christine Griffin issued an advisory to parents, explaining that the incidents led to disruptions in power and internet services. She highlighted the district's priority on safety, declaring, "The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our utmost priority, and we are taking this measure to ensure everyone's safety," Griffin's statement was relayed by Hoodline.
While the suspect remains at large, the presiding task force includes various agencies, such as the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, the County Attorney's Office investigative unit, Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority, and the ATF National Response Team. The police have appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, especially those residing in Castle Canyon Mesa and Lynx Lake Estates. The police tip line has been actively set to receive any leads at (928) 772-5666. For anonymous information, the Yavapai Silent Witness can be reached at 1-800-932-3232, in a concerted effort to rapidly catch the wrongdoer, this was outlined by a message from Police Chief Ticer obtained by Hoodline.
