Wednesday afternoon, criminal damage and arson were discovered at the Big Park School in the Village of Oak Creek. YCSO Spokesman Dwight D’Evelyn says the investigation led to the arrest of two 15-years-old males. Deputies met with a school official and were taken to a classroom on campus where damage was found. This particular classroom door had been propped open and a large metal desk placed in the opening. It is unknown how this door, normally locked, was opened. A striker tool, used to ignite propane torches, was located and apparently used to try and ignite papers towel found nearby. Cabinet doors had been opened, the contents of multiple boxes stored on tables were ransacked, and broken glass was found on the floor by the doorway.There was also a pile of burned items in the middle of the room including books and papers. Deputies noted the suspects had started a fire inside a trash can which was apparently extinguished. Fire extinguisher powder coated all areas of the room. Drawings of male genitalia were seen on whiteboards and on one of the whiteboards, someone had written a name and tried to erase it. Deputies were able to read the name which was noted for follow-up. Thursday afternoon, deputies located the juvenile named on the whiteboard at Sedona’s Red Rock High School. The student claimed his friend, now a second suspect, was the one who wrote his name on the board while admitting to the arson and vandalism. He was arrested and booked into the Juvenile Detention Facility in Prescott. A few hours later, deputies located the second suspect at his home in VOC. He was also arrested and booked into the facility in Prescott. D’Evelyn says additional suspects are still being sought.
