CHICAGO — A 25-year-old Near West Side man was charged with three felony counts of criminal damage after damaging a horse statue that's part of a fundraising effort for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation.
Darius Moss, of the 2300 block of West Jackson Boulevard, was arrested after being identified as the man who climbed on and damaged a "Horses of Honor" statue in the 500 block of North Michigan Avenue around 11:05 p.m. Saturday, police said.
Moss was arrested a short time later and charged. He was ordered held on $50,000 bail by Judge Peggy Chiampas Monday for breaking the horse's wings.
A witness to the incident said Moss was showing off to laughing friends when he climbed the horse and threw his fist into the air "like Louis the Great."
When the witness returned to the scene a few hours later, a woman was on the horse.
The horse is one of 29 fiberglass statues that will be auctioned off as part of a fundraiser for deceased officers.
The horse allegedly damaged by Moss was constructed by artist Rich Greiwe, according to the Horses of Honor organization.
The horse is a memorial to Lt. Patrick McGann, who was killed responding to a report of a burglary in progress at 3343 W. Columbus Dr. on July 13, 1977. The incident turned out to be four people drinking beer on the roof.
After helping one of the suspects, a woman, down off the roof, McGann drove away but crashed at 59th Street and California Avenue. He died at Holy Cross Hospital and officials said McGann had had a heart attack.
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