SAFFORD – In the lead up to Christmas, Safford Police found themselves dealing a number of fire and trash related incidents.
The first occurred December 21, a fire in the vacant area north of the Bullpen bar. The fire involved weeds and old clothing, and a Safford officer was able to quickly extinguish it.
The second incident occurred Dec, 22, when a person – identified as Brock Crandell – reportedly lit boxes on fire outside the Little Caesars Pizza restaurant, and then began taken trash out of the Dumpster and leaving the trash strewn about.
Officers said Crandell claimed he needed to start the fire to “sanitize his shoe,” and he was then ordered to extinguish the fire and clean the trash. Crandell was also trespassed from the restaurant.
On Dec. 23, officers responded to South Tierra Drive, which is becoming a site of wildcat dumping. A number of bags of trash and litter was found there and city sanitation crews had to be called out to clean the area.