Police: Suspect confesses in downtown Adrian sculpture vandalism
ADRIAN — Police say a suspect has confessed to damaging a sculpture over the weekend in downtown Adrian.
The suspect “was quickly located, and confessed to damaging the statue," Adrian Deputy Chief Laurence Van Alstine said in a news release issued Monday afternoon
“There was no specific motive for destroying the statue, but alcohol appears to have been in factor in deciding to break it,” Van Alstine said in the release.
Adrian police said on Saturday a sculpture in downtown Adrian was vandalized on the north side of the 100 block of East Maumee Street. The vandalism, the department said, happened sometime between 12:30 and 9 a.m. Saturday.
The sculpture, titled “Human Column,” was created by Mark Chatterley.
While the investigation was ongoing over the weekend, a $1,000 cash reward was offered to anybody who had information that could potentially lead to the culprits.
“Human Column” is a part of the 11th annual Adrian Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, which features various pieces of artwork placed throughout the city. The sculpture, priced at $12,000, was in front of Farver’s at the Croswell, 129 E. Maumee St. Many of the art pieces downtown are crafted by artists representing Flatlanders Sculpture Supply and Art Galleries of Blissfield.
On Friday, Adrian hosted its first Cruise-in Car Show of the year as part of the monthly First Fridays downtown. Adrian City Commissioner Lad Strayer posted on his Facebook page Saturday, First Fridays was “successful” and then the next morning “we woke to the senseless destruction of one of our downtown sculptures.”
“As an elected official I am very proud of a number of good things that we have happening in Adrian right now, but when something like this happens, it just breaks my heart,” he said in the Facebook post.
Adrian police said information from witnesses, subsequent to the department’s news release issued Saturday about the vandalism, “assisted in the identification of the individual responsible for destroying a statue located in downtown Adrian.”
The case has been submitted to the Lenawee County Prosector's Office, which will make the decision regarding charges against the individual involved, Van Alstine said in the release.
The identity of the suspect will not be released until, and if, a warrant is issued for them and they are arrested, the release said.
Chatterly, of Williamston, is also the creator of the “Blue Human Condition” sculpture, which made headlines in the spring of 2014 after some residents complained about its perceived sexual innuendo.
The sculpture, which was one of seven in Adrian's 2014-15 Art Discovery public art program, depicted seven human-like, gender-neutral figures in varying standing and seated positions. One of the figures was looking toward the ground with the top of its head in the pelvic region of one of the standing figures. Because of the perceived innuendo, the statue was covered with a tarp and was then relocated from its original location next to the city offices on East Maumee Street, to Yew Park on North Winter Street across from the Citizens Gas Fuel Co. Blue Flame Room.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Police: Suspect confesses in downtown Adrian sculpture vandalism
