Azusa Police Division/ InstagramA “serial slingshot shooter”‘ who for years had allegedly antagonised residents of his California neighbourhood has been arrested, police say.
The 81-year-old man is accused of firing ball bearings at dozens of native properties, breaking home windows and windshields and narrowly lacking individuals.
Azusa police say Prince King’s arrest concludes a “prolonged investigation” and brings an finish to the “high quality of life problem” that had plagued area-residents for almost a decade.
Mr King pleaded not responsible throughout his court docket look on Tuesday.
Azusa Police Division launched an announcement on Instagram this week saying that Mr King’s arrest got here after a search warrant was executed on his dwelling within the neighbourhood the place the incidents had been reported.
“In the course of the search, ball bearings and a slingshot had been recovered from his residence,” police mentioned.
The offences had been taking place for 9 to 10 years, police mentioned, throughout which period “dozens of residents had been being victimised by a serial slingshot shooter”.
This contains ball bearings flung towards dwelling home windows and automobile windshields, and “virtually” hitting individuals.
Police mentioned they had been capable of arrest Mr King when a current uptick in complaints revealed a “sample” and allowed them to “slim it all the way down to a particular residence”.
“We’re not conscious of any type of motive different than simply malicious mischief,” Azusa police Lt Jake Bushey instructed native information.
Residents say they’re relieved after years of incidents.
“Many instances I got here exterior, and I’d discover little BBs by the entrance door,” resident Monico Palomino instructed a neighborhood NBC affiliate.
“I am very glad the particular person was caught.”
Pictures of cracked home windows and plastic baggage stuffed with little silver balls gathered from the yards of victims had been displayed on native information.
Mr King faces felony and misdemeanor vandalism prices, based on the New York Instances.
He has been launched with out bail till his subsequent court docket date on 17 June.
