PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. — More than a month has passed since the Legado Luxury Apartments in Prescott Valley went up in flames.
The apartments were under construction when the fire was started in the early morning of April 1, 2024. Investigators say it was set on purpose.
“When I saw that glow I knew this was not going to be good,” recalled Brad Fain, who is developing the Legado property. He said he could see the flames miles away as he was approaching that early Monday morning after he got the emergency call.
Many are still shocked this happened in their community. “You don’t see things like this is smaller towns in rural Arizona,” said Fain.
Investigators now believe the same person is responsible for as many as six different dates of crimes going back to early March. They range from graffiti and vandalism, to massive damage and now arson at both the apartments and Bradshaw Mountain High School a few days later.
While many tips have come in, investigators want more. They're asking for the public to call in with anything they know.
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“The public wants this person caught just as bad as we do,” said Prescott Valley Police Chief Robert Ticer.
Prescott Valley Police are leading this investigation with help from their regional and national partners including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
“Big or small we don’t care we’ll follow up on every single lead,” said Brendan Iber, Special Agent in change of ATF Phoenix Field Division.
Ticer said nearly two dozen ATF Special Agents joined them at the site less than 24 hours after the fire first began. They stayed for five days gathering evidence, and bringing their expertise with structural engineers and investigators.
Ticer said he is grateful for the community outreach they have had so far. Police are following up on all leads, and Ticer encourages people to revisit the surveillance video and photos. Take some time to see if anything jogs your memory, but also think deeper, Ticer explained.
“Has somebody abruptly left? Have they changed their patterns and their behaviors? Something that would stimulate their thinking and if that is the case, call us and we’ll follow up on that,” said Ticer.
Ticer also encourages people to critically think about the timeframe when this happened. Most instances are in the late night or early morning dating back to early March. If you noticed someone active during that part of the day, they’d like to hear from you.
What sticks out about this suspect?
Investiagtors say they have evidence linking this same suspect to all these crimes.
Iber said to focus on their distinct, all-black outfit. They were filmed wearing unique Under Armor boots and a Go Pro-type camera on their head.
“We think for whatever reason this individual is recording what they're doing,” he said. If they post the video somewhere, Iber thinks it could help their investigation.If you come across a video like this on social media, authorities ask you to share it with them.
How much was damaged?
The Legado site had the most damage, costing somewhere over $60 million, investigators said.
Fain, the developer, said one of the biggest losses to the community is the loss of jobs. Crews from as far as Phoenix and as close as Prescott Valley itself were helping to build the site, he explained.
“The bigger side is the impact on the people that lost their jobs,” said Fain. “There’s probably give or take 200 people that work on this project,” he added.
Bradshaw Mountain High School also suffered at the hands of this person. Ticer and the Prescott Valley Police Department estimate around $60,000 in damages.
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Ticer said other nearby businesses also dealt with graffiti and vandalism, including the Harkins Theater, Buffalo Wild Wings and more near the Legado Apartments.
What’s next for Legado Luxury Apartments?
Although the fire was devastating, the people behind the apartments want to rebuild.
The first phase of demolition has wrapped up, and developers plan to start the next phase the week of May 20th, explained the apartment's owner, Fain Signature Group President and CEO Brad Fain.
He said this will include knocking down the parking structure — which is no longer safe due to damage from the heat of the flames — roads in the area including Florentine and Main should be able to reopen.
Fain said they plan to rebuild, but it will likely take all summer to clear the lot of debris. Fain said it will take about 70-75 days to clear the site and hall off materials, including recycling what they can.
They hope to have the lot cleared by August or September so they can start again.
“We’re a go until we discover something that says we can't rebuild, but we’re going to rebuild,” said Fain.
How to submit a tip?
Nothing is too small, investigators said.
There is a reward totaling $55,000 dollars if you can help investigators make an arrest, including a portion of that money was donated from the community.
“Just call. Whether you think its big or small or some little thing that sparks your memory or reminds you just call and we will track down every single one of those leads. We will go to the end because we have to get this person into custody and facing justice because with the patterns we are seeing we don't want to see this happen again up there so we have to get this person into custody,” Special Agent Iber with ATF.
More details about the case are available here and there are many ways you can leave a tip:
- You can remain anonymous by calling Yavapai Silent Witness at 1-800-932-3232.
- You can share videos and photos directly with Prescott Valley Police Department.
- You can also call ATF: 1-888-ATF-TIPS or email them at ATFTIPS@atf.gov.
“This whole community wants this person brought to justice because it's just sad to see what this crime did to good people,” said Ticer. This is your chance to help.
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