Turlock police looking for persons of interest in flooding of The Vista apartments
Police detectives on Thursday afternoon released security camera video of 10 people considered persons of interest in connection with vandalism that caused major flooding in a building at The Vista apartments.
Detectives have determined that several water valves were intentionally opened, allowing water from the fire suppression system to flood the building, according to a Turlock police news release.
The west side of The Vista's Building A sustained extensive water damage. Police officials estimated that more than 100 residents were evacuated as a precaution.
Officials released photos of the 10 people captured in the security camera video. Police officials asked the public to help identify the people in the photographs, who may be involved in the vandalism that led to the flooding.
The flooding was reported at the complex at 12:55 a.m. Sunday. The Turlock Fire Department arrived and found a water leak in an interior stairwell.
The firefighters assessed the leak and turned off several water mains to stop the flowing water. They also turned off electricity to the west side of the complex because of the flooding.
Turlock police officers helped the firefighters get residents out of the flooded apartments. No injuries were reported.
Capt. Kevin Tidwell, a Turlock Fire Department spokesman, has said the majority of the flooding was found in the area of the interior stairwell. The department released video footage of firefighters entering the flooded areas of the building.
The large apartment complex includes three four-story apartment buildings. Residents moved-in for the first time in Mid-August. The gated community was built on nearly 10 acres at 900 West Monte Vista Avenue, across the street from the Stanislaus State campus.
The apartments are available to rent only for students, serving those enrolled at Stanislaus State, Modesto Junior College, Merced College and the Universirty of California at Merced. The Vista has the capacity to house 660 students in its 180 apartments, which vary from single-person studios to four bedroom units with private bathrooms.
Turlock police officials ask anyone with information regarding this vandalism to call Detective Jason Tosta at (209) 664-7324, call the department’s tip line at (209) 668-5550 ext. 6780 or send an e-mail to tpdtipline@turlock.ca.us.
This story was originally published January 18, 2018 at 4:36 PM with the headline "Turlock police looking for persons of interest in flooding of The Vista apartments."