Three Arrested in Echo Canyon School Burglary Investigation

Phoenix police have arrested three people in connection with break-ins at the old Echo Canyon School grounds near 62nd Street and Camelback Road. A fourth suspect has not been found or identified, police said.

The campus is no longer a school but remains in use for community events and storage of Scottsdale Unified School District equipment. Police said four people entered the property in October and went back inside various buildings and spaces over a number of days, taking and damaging computer gear as well as other belongings.

The district estimated about $230,000 in missing or harmed computer hardware and another $51,000 in damage to property. Detectives connected the crimes to social-media posts associated with “urban exploring,” in which people enter places they believe are abandoned and share content online.

On October 30, investigators searched a residence in north Scottsdale, held two suspects and gathered evidence. Police said 18-year-old Blake Eldredge admitted taking part in the burglaries and provided information that helped detectives locate another suspect and additional stolen property. Another suspect was subsequently taken into custody in Mesa, where investigators also recovered evidence.

Eldredge faced multiple felony counts. The two 16-year-olds were released to their parents, and police forwarded charges to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for review. Phoenix police said the investigation involved cooperation with school officials and other law enforcement agencies.