Police arrest suspected Niemisto park vandal
By Journal Staff
MARQUETTE — A 22-year-old Marquette resident was arrested Thursday on a charge of malicious destruction of property in relation to damage to the Phil Niemisto statue along Washington Street in Marquette.
Police received a report that the hat had been removed from the statue and left at the scene on Sept. 15, according to a Marquette Police Department press release.
The charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail and/or a fine of $500 or three times the amount of damage, whichever is greater, the release states.
Officials say the suspect posted $250 bond and was released with an arraignment date of Oct. 11.
Police recovered the hat the night of the incident and turned it over to the Marquette Downtown Development Authority.
It is the policy of The Mining Journal not to publish the name of suspects until they have been arraigned.