Man accused of trespassing on school grounds
A 47-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly trespassing after showing up repeatedly at Cibola High School, according to the Yuma Police Department and school officials.
The man, identified as Jose Luis Ayala Jr., was taken into custody at approximately 4:50 p.m. on Tuesday after he was seen by witnesses at the school’s softball fields.
Ayala has also been identified as the same person who made advances to a cheerleader in the school parking lot after practice back on Jan. 24, according to Eric Patten, communications director and community liaison for the Yuma Union High School District.
Patten told the Yuma Sun the incident was reported to Yuma police and a complaint was taken, with the cheer coach providing a statement. Ayala had left the scene before police were able to speak with him.
The following day Ayala was seen again near the softball fields behind the school, and school security and YPD made contact with him and issued Ayala a trespassing warning, Patten explained, noting the fields are school property.
Then on Tuesday, witnesses to the earlier incidents spotted Ayala across the street from the high school in the Cibola Heights neighborhood, Patten said.
Police were contacted and began searching the area, said YPD Sgt. Lori Franklin. Ayala then pulled into the softball parking lot where he was questioned by police and subsequently arrested.
“(Ayala) parked in the softball parking lot and when questioned by police he said he was there to watch the softball game. There was no game, just practice,” Patten said. “He was arrested for violating the trespass warning because the fields are still school property. He was made aware of that during the original warning.”
Sgt. Franklin added, “He had no reason to be at the school, so we charged him with trespassing.”
Ayala was booked into Yuma County Detention Center on charges of criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct.
Other reports of children being approached by strangers late in January has prompted a heightened sense of caution in the community, said Crane School District spokeswoman Trina Siegfried.
Siegfried said parents or guardians should talk to their children about reporting such incidents to them, a teacher, principal, police officer or other official.
Walking to school or practices should also be done in groups or with a trusted adult or buddy.
Erring on the side of caution is best, Franklin said.
“If you see somebody acting suspicious, call us and we can check them out,” she said. “If a person has no reason to be at a practice or event, (parents and coaches) can call us.”