New video of suspects involved with arson at Mesa Heights Apartments
UPDATE ( February 6th, 2018)
According to Yuma Police Department, the Arizona Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention and the Arizona Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators are now offering a reward up to $10,000 for information regarding the Mesa Heights Apartments fire.
For more information, please contact Detective Eric Fell at 928-783-4421. You can also call 78-Crime to submit information anonymously and could be eligible for up to $1,000.
ORIGINAL STORY
An apartment complex is planning to rebuild after an act of arson earlier this week.
Yuma Police Department released new surveillance video of two men intentionally starting the fire.
“They utilize the gas can to initiate the fire,” said Officer Janet Sanchez. “The suspects then fled the scene and the investigation is still ongoing to identifying those suspects.”
On the apartment property alone, it has an estimated half of a million dollars worth of damages. The Housing Authority for the City of Yuma is planning for the future. Executive Director Micheal Morrissey said the incident was heartbreaking and disappointing for the individuals who did not care for the neighborhood.
“We received word we have full coverage to thankfully rebuild and we’ll be delayed a few months, but it won’t affect the other six [buildings]. For the families who were affected, we will have to work with their insurance companies and hopefully have coverage to assist and help them get back on their feet as well.”
Over 400 families applied to the Mesa Heights Apartments but only 58 of them will be moving in later this year. Morrissey adds that the complex was not only for housing but a beneficiary to the neighborhood.
“It’s more than just a construction site, or bricks and mortar, or affordable housing-it’s a community with a training center and resources available for anybody in that neighborhood, and that’s what was under attack over the weekend.” Latest Press Update from YPD: The fire has been determined to be Arson. The investigation has revealed two males scaled a construction fence with a lighter and gas can. They utilized the gasoline to initiate the fire. The suspects fled the scene. The investigation is on-going into identifying and locating the suspects.
The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call Detective E. Fell at (928) 373-4744 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous. Remember if your information leads to an arrest you may receive up to $1,000 cash reward.
