Suspect in missing nude Donald Trump statue arrested

Donald Trump statue remains missing, investigation continues

MIAMI – A suspect in the missing Donald Trump statue has been arrested, although the statue has yet to be recovered.

City of Miami police tweeted out that the statue that went missing had been found, but soon sent out a correction on Friday.

However, Pedro Alejandro Rodriguez, 36, has been charged with Grand Theft and Burglary

"I just saw the guy sneaking up and he was already by the Donald Trump," a man who witnessed the theft said. "He just pulled it and ran, so I just ran after him and said, 'Stop, stop,' and then he just jumped and got in the truck and left."

The statue of the naked Republican presidential nominee was located near Northwest Second Avenue and Northwest 23rd Street. It was relocated from its previous location at Northwest 24th Street and Northwest Sixth Avenue.

The anarchist group, Indecline, has taken credit for installing the au naturel Trump statue in other cities, including New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Indecline told Local 10 News in a statement that it worked with Mana Contemporary, an art center and exhibition space, to install two Trump statues in Miami and New Jersey.

"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," Eugene Lemay, president of Mana Contemporary, said in a statement to Local 10 News.

Police said a gray 2013 Ford F-150 was used in the theft of the Miami statue, which is registered to Rodriguez. 


About the Authors:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.