A man using construction equipment dropped a heavy object on a statue that has stood outside St. Louis Cathedral for 25 years, severely damaging it, police said.
It is unclear whether the 14-foot-tall Angel of Harmony depicts a black angel protecting three children of different races. St. Louis after shipment reported that a part of one of the children broke off and the angel’s wings were apparently damaged.
The motive for Tuesday night’s robbery is unknown, police said, and a 35-year-old suspect has been arrested.
The Angel of Harmony, created by Polish sculptor Wiktor Sostalo, was installed in 1999, months after Pope John Paul II’s visit to St. Louis. There are more than 100 wind chimes on the angel’s wings and children playing musical instruments. The base is inscribed with quotes from the New Testament, Pope John Paul II and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
“Since 1999, the Angel of Harmony has graced the grounds of our city’s cathedral basilica as a joyful reminder that our diversity should be celebrated, that truth, beauty and goodness unite us all,” St. Louis Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski said in a statement. “We need to remember this every day. We still have information about the extent of the damage and we hope that this special monument can be restored.”
Police arrived at the beautiful Catholic church in downtown St. Louis’ West End neighborhood after a caller reported a man vandalizing construction equipment. The statue was torn from its base. Police said the suspect also apparently fired shots at an unoccupied vehicle. It was not known why.
Surveillance video helped lead officers to the man. Officers spotted him, but he fled. A police dog helped track down the suspect, who was hiding a few blocks from the church.
Salter writes for the Associated Press.
