Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Police Investigate Vandalism, Fire

An empty house at First and Laurel streets burned Saturday, July 5.

According to Prescott Police Chief Willie Latin, officer Joey Beavers noticed a fire at the house around 2:30 a.m. and made sure the flames were extinguished.

However, around 7 a.m. Saturday, a call came in to the Prescott Fire Department and PPD concerning the structure being on fire again. By the time officers and firemen arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames and could not be saved.

Latin said the house had been burned before a few months ago. While it wasn't destroyed the first time it burned, it was in this latest fire.

VANDALISM

Person or persons unknown vandalized the U.S. Post Office in Prescott around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 2.

According to reports from the PPD, someone spray painted "gang" type signs in the lobby using white paint.

The vandal(s) also painted the words "Big East Boy" on a stamp machine in the lobby, spraying paint into the coin slots of the machinery as well.

A gang-type symbol was painted onto a wooden door with a profane word.

The paint was not fully dry when the vandalism was discovered.

BREAK-INS

Two homes were broken into during the holiday weekend, according to PPD reports.

A mobile home owned by Elsie Vanhook was broken into sometime Friday, July 4.

The break in was discovered by her son, James, who was driving by to check on the home when he noticed the front door being open.

He went inside and found the television and couch missing. The refrigerator had been moved from the kitchen to the living room as if someone was planning to return and take it.

There were no signs of forced entry.

The second break in occurred between 2 and 11 p.m. Friday, July 4 at the home of Sara Taylor.

Apparently, someone pried open the back door of her home, taking a purse and carton of cigarettes.

DWI CHECKS

It was a rough holiday weekend for those who chose to drink and drive.

In fact there were three arrested for driving while under the influence, while four others found themselves given tickets for public intoxication.

According to Jim Westmoreland, criminal investigator with the PPD and Nevada County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Steve Otwell had the deputies set up sobriety check points at various locations throughout the county to intercept those who may have been drinking and driving.

Of the three DWI arrests, one was made by the Arkansas State Police, one by the PPD and one by the NCSO. All four arrested for public intoxication were picked up by the PPD, Westmoreland said.

"Sheriff Otwell, in his efforts to keep drinking drivers off the road," Westmoreland said, "directed the check points be set up."

This, Westmoreland said, was done with the officers primarily looking for any kind of alcohol-related infractions.

"We appreciate the cooperation of the public," he said. "We tried to keep our contact time to a minimum."