Local

Three arrested for vandalism of World War II statue

BELMONT, N.C.,None — Belmont Police arrested three men Thursday in conncection with the decapitation of The Spirit of the Fighting Yank World War II Memorial statue.

Two Mt. Holly men, Justin Russell, 19, and Henry Diegert, 18, were arrested, along with Steven Morgan, 18, of Stanley. All three face theft, conspiracy and vandalism charges.

On July 24, 2011, Belmont officers saw that the Fighting Yank statue was lying on the ground next to its pedestal in front of Belmont Middle School. When they inspected it, the realized it had been decapitated and the head was missing.

During the investigation, the suspects confessed to officers and explained that after they destroyed the statue, they stole the head and threw it into Dutchman Creek near North Main Street in Mt. Holly.

Scuba divers from the Gastonia Police Department searched the river and found several pieces of the statue's head.

Belmont Police Chief Charlie Franklin said officers put long hours into the investigation.

“We are glad we were able to solve this case,” Franklin said. “For anyone to show this level of disrespect to veterans is unacceptable.”

The statue was first built in 1946 and there are only five in the world.

Franklin said that Gaston County Schools is working to either repair or replace the statue.