Prescott Valley is on high alert as local schools shut down and law enforcement scramble to catch a vandal wreaking havoc in the area. The Humboldt Unified School District (HUSD) announced a safety-driven closure of all schools yesterday, following a series of disturbing crimes, including the vandalism of Bradshaw Mountain High School and a major fire at a nearby construction site, as a statement obtained by azfamily.com detailed.
With damages estimated at $60,000 at the high school and a staggering $60 million at the apartment complex, the community is restless. Despite reassurances from local officials about the schools' safety, the decision to cancel classes was described as an exercise of "extreme caution," according to the district's statement released Thursday afternoon. This closure follows an alarming pattern including a Thursday school break-in and earlier vandalism incidents on March 29 and March 31, which Prescott Valley police believe are all connected to the same suspect.
Sights are set on one individual, shrouded in all black attire, gloves and boots, as well as camouflaged with what seems to be a gas mask with an attached camera and headlamp – an image captured by surveillance near Bradshaw Mountain High School and disclosed by Prescott Valley police. The search intensifies as authorities, in a report by azfamily.com, are asking residents around the school to examine their home surveillance footage for traces of this mysterious figure during those critical early morning hours.
Meanwhile, the Legado Luxury Apartments, which are located not far from the high school, became a roaring inferno on Monday around 1:15 a.m. The aftermath, though absent of injury, left behind a skeleton of what might have been prosperous living spaces and possible leads to the ongoing criminal investigation. Prescott Valley Police Chief Bob Ticer has linked the apartment fire and the high school vandalism, consolidating efforts between multiple agencies, among them the ATF, to track down the elusive individual responsible.
The community remains vigilant as law enforcement continues to canvas the area for the suspect. HUSD and local authorities are urging anyone with information to reach out to the Prescott Valley police tip line or Yavapai Silent Witness. As Prescott Valley contends with the stark reality of senseless destruction, its people and their protectors press on with unwavering resolve to restore peace and safety to their shaken town.
