Naked Trump Statue Stolen, Person Of Interest Named
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The search is on for a man named as a person of interest in the theft of a naked Donald Trump statue in Miami's neighborhood of Wynwood.
Miami Police said they are looking for Pedro Alejandro Rodriguez, 36, in the grand theft case.
CBS4's Hank Tester paid a visit to Rodriguez's address in the affluent Coral Gables neighborhood. A person behind a door said Rodriguez did not live there.
Authorities say a 2013 gray Ford F-150 truck with the Florida tag number CMW-M58 was used in the incident. That car is registered to Rodriguez.
The statue of a nude Trump - worth $50,0000 - was on display on the roof of the Harold Golen Gallery at NW 2nd Street and 23rd Avenue before being stolen overnight.
A witness said he saw three guys climb up onto the roof, grab the statue and throw it into the truck. They then sped off.
"I seen the guys looking up," said Angel Pino. "He was already by Donald Trump and pulled it and ran. I ran after him and said 'stop, stop, stop' and he jumped in the truck and left. But before he left, I took a picture and it is perfect."
Police have not said if it was Pino's picture that pointed them in the direction of Rodriguez.
The au natural statue of the GOP presidential nominee appeared earlier this month perched on top of a billboard next to a vacant piece of property at Northwest 24th Street and 6th Avenue. It was then moved to the gallery.
The statue is the product of INDECLINE, an anonymous anarchist collective. They've also placed nude Trump statues in New York, Cleveland, Seattle and San Francisco.
INDECLINE said they were contacted by Mana Wynwood to install the statue in Miami and vowed that it would remain on view until the November election.
Mana Wynwood issued a statement on the incident saying,
"The sculpture "The Emperor Has No Balls" by the artist collective INDECLINE was stolen from the property of Mana Wynwood on Thursday, September 22 before dawn. The owners of Mana Wynwood have filed a police report and shared security footage from the scene.
The theft of the sculpture will not undermine our determination to stand strong for what it represents and what we want to communicate: a profound statement against any forms of bigotry, racism, and discrimination during this presidential election campaign."
As for locals in Wynwood, they had some thoughts to share on the matter.
"You know what, it is not much different than watching him on TV....he is making a fool out of himself either way," said a store clerk.
"Now he is gone, so I don't know," said a woman who identified herself as Sharine.
"You want him back," asked Tester.
"Of course I do," she replied.
Those who think they have found the Trump statue can simply look down. His fiberglass feet are still nailed to the gallery roof so he'll be missing those.
Anyone with information is urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471- TIPS.
