Fire also under investigation as cover-up for a burglary

The city council at its meeting Monday night commended members of the two departments for their handling It’s been a busy week for the Prescott Police and Fire Department.

Photo courtesy of Jesse Robertson. of two separate incidents, both of which remain under investigation.

Friday morning, a fire was reported at 122 Borner St. No one was home at the residence, and the Prescott Police notes on its incident report of the 11:22 call to assist the Prescott Fire Department that it is being investigated as a burglary.

“That’s right,” Police Chief Eric Michaels said. “We’re investigating it as a burglary – arson cover-up.”

No one was in the residence when the 911 call was placed by a neighbor. Footage of the home at the time shows flames shooting outside one side of the residence and smoke pouring out of the garage.

No arrests have been made in the incident.

Then, Sunday morning, a small explosive device was found, a neighborhood was evacuated, and the St. Pall Bomb Squad was called to investigate. It was eventually detonated, and remnants from the explosion flew over the fence into the track area at Laney Field.

Police urged people to stay away from the scene via social media.

Michaels released the following initial statement.

“At approximately 9:55 a.m., officers with the Prescott Police Department were notified of a suspicious object located on Campbell Street near the Prescott Post Office. Under initial observation of this device, it was determined the area needed to be blocked off and evacuated fro safety reasons. Emergency personnel are currently on scene and waiting for other resources to help us resolve this situation. We are working very hard to get those who have been asked to leave the area back into their homes as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience. While this object may look like a firework to some, there is substantial reason to believe it is not.”

Police and residents had to be patient while behind the scenes work was done to get the bomb squad on the scene.

That team came at 1:19 p.m.

“It was determined the device in question was indeed an improvised explosive device and not a firework. This device was made safe by the St. Paul Bomb Squad. The device has been collected for evidence and this case is under investigation,” Michaels said in a statement.

Residents were allowed to return to their homes at that time.

“This is just the beginning of this investigation,” Michaels said Monday. “We’re calling in other agencies for help on this.”

Michaels said a man driving by noticed the device on the side of the road. He passed it, and it piqued his interest, so he turned around to take another look, and realized he needed to call the police.