The aged man neighbors in Azusa knew as “Wick” appeared to some residents to be a busybody, however to others he acted like a guardian, paying attention to each suspicious habits in his road and conserving neighbors knowledgeable.
So it got here as a shock to many residents of this working-class neighborhood when Azusa police and SWAT officers blocked off streets close to North Enid Avenue and Crescent Drive and arrested 81-year-old Prince King.
For about 10 years, police mentioned in a press release, King terrorized the neighborhood by taking pictures metallic ball bearings with a slingshot, breaking home home windows, automobile windshields and almost hanging neighbors themselves. In his home, investigators say, they discovered ball bearings and a slingshot.
“I by no means thought he may very well be doing that,” mentioned Neomi Reynoso, a 46-year-old neighbor.
The neighborhood was plagued for years by flying metallic ball bearings that shattered home windows and struck home partitions, she mentioned. Neighbors didn’t know who was taking pictures the ball bearings or for what purpose, Reynosa mentioned.
King was charged final week with seven counts of vandalism. He pleaded not responsible in courtroom Tuesday.
One other neighbor, who requested to not be recognized for security causes, mentioned a ball bearing got here crashing by means of two home windows in his neighborhood about 9 years in the past. He didn’t suppose a lot of it then, till he heard of comparable incidents in the identical space.
King didn’t come out of his dwelling a lot, the neighbor mentioned, besides to mow his garden or wash his automobile. Nonetheless, the person they knew as “Wick” waved to neighbors and appeared pleasant. As soon as, he mentioned, King noticed that he was altering a flat tire on his automobile and supplied to lend him his jack.
Neighbors mentioned they didn’t understand how King acquired he nickname “Wick,” but it surely was the identify by which a few of them knew him since they first moved to the neighborhood.
If King was behind the vandalism, the neighbor mentioned, he’s unsure why he’d do it.
“We by no means had an argument or something,” he mentioned. “I nonetheless can’t consider somebody that’s 80 years previous would do that.”
About three weeks in the past, a chunk from his entrance door panel was damaged off, the neighbor mentioned. He thought at first it was previous wooden, however then discovered a ball bearing on the bottom outdoors.
One other time, he mentioned, he was outdoors his door smoking a cigarette when he heard one thing whiz quickly by his head. He put out his cigarette and went inside.
King, who has lived within the neighborhood for many years, additionally appeared to be told concerning the comings and goings on the block. When a wierd automobile would park on the block, the neighbor mentioned, King would share particulars of the automobile.
As soon as, Reynoso mentioned, King approached her and instructed her that somebody late at night time had tried to steal gasoline from her automobile.
“He knew every part, a variety of issues that have been taking place across the block,” she mentioned.
He typically got here throughout as a busybody, she mentioned, however many residents thought he was watching out for the neighborhood.
She was focused by a ball bearing about eight or 9 years in the past, she mentioned, however has no thought why.
King typically had disagreements with neighbors, she mentioned. He didn’t like individuals parking on his facet of the road, she mentioned, and would typically block it together with his automobiles or trash cans to maintain others from parking there. However nothing appeared to escalate.
Neither King nor his protection lawyer may very well be reached for remark.
Throughout King’s courtroom listening to Tuesday, a choose launched him on his personal recognizance, however he was ordered to remain a minimum of 200 yards away from the houses of recognized victims.
The subsequent morning, one other neighbor walked out to King’s home and positioned an indication and a message on the entrance yard that appeared to be directed at him: “Keep away Wick.”
