BELMONT, NC (WBTV) – Three teenagers in Gaston County are behind bars after police say they decapitated a rare World War Two statue.
According to Belmont Police, officers arrested the three teens on Thursday after investigating the vandalism of The Spirit of the Fighting Yank statue nearly eight months ago.
On Thursday, officers charged 19-year-old Justin Russell, of Mt. Holly, 18-year-old Henry Diegert, of Mt. Holly, and 18-year-old Steven Morgan, of Stanley, with felony larceny, conspiracy to commit felony larceny and misdemeanor conspiracy to deface and injure a public statue.
Police say the investigation began in July when the statue was found lying on the ground next to the mounting. When officers examined the statue, they found it decapitated and say the head appeared to have been stolen from the grounds.
The men were booked into the Gaston County Jail on Thursday and were given a $1,000 bond.
The statue was erected in 1946 and is one of only five of its kind in the world. The others are located in Chicago, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
Police in Belmont gave thanks to the public for providing crucial information that led to the arrest of the three teens.
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The Spirit of the Fighting Yank (Belmont Police)
Justin Russell (Courtesy Gaston Co. Jail)
Henry Diegert (Courtesy Gaston Co. Jail)
Steven Morgan (Courtesy Gaston Co. Jail)
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