Three Arrested and Charged with Felonies for Vandalism of Providence Columbus Statue
GoLocalProv News Team
Three Arrested and Charged with Felonies for Vandalism of Providence Columbus Statue
Providence Police announced they arrested three individuals for vandalizing the statue — the one man and two women and each was charged with desecration of grave/monument (11-20-2) (a felony) and conspiracy felony.
As GoLocal was first to report, Providence Councilman Jim Taylor moved to cover the statue on Friday night, before the vandalism took place.
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The three arrested were Derrick Garforth, age 34; Charlotte Whittingham age 28, and Mackenzie Innis age 26.
The three were traveling in a Massachusetts registered vehicle.
The Columbus statue was placed in a protective box by Taylor, who represents the area.
The legacy of Columbus is widely criticized and his statues have been attacked around the country.
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The sculpture was created by Auguste Bartholdi —the Frenchman who sculpted the Statue of Liberty.
The sculpture was cast in 1893 by the Gorham Manufacturing Company, which had commissioned master sculptor Bartholdi.
The Providence-based bronze cast statue is a cast of the original sterling silver statue commissioned for the 1892 Columbian Exposition of the World's Fair held in Chicago, Illinois. “For the upcoming exposition, Gorham wanted a demonstration piece to show the skill of its foundry and commissioned Bartholdi to create a statue of Columbus,” according to the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s Office.
According to its history, “The completed model was shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to be cast from 30,000 ounces of silver at Providence, Rhode Island. The casting was a ceremonial affair, where guests were they ‘were feted as they watched the process.’ Gorham officials accompanied and shipped the statue to Chicago via rail. It served as a demonstration piece at the exposition, showcasing the skill of its foundry in a technically difficult to execute sterling silver cast that was also the work of a well-known sculptor. After the exposition, the statue was returned to Providence where it was melted
The incident regarding the vandalism of Christopher Columbus statue was reported by Providence Police as follows:
Providence, RI - On 06/13/20 at approximately 2300 hours, Providence Police detectives were working in the area of Reservoir Avenue at Elmwood Avenue, specifically focusing their attention on Columbus Square and the statue of Christopher Columbus, which had recently been boarded up and fenced in due to the fear of vandals defacing or destroying it.
Acting on information developed earlier in the evening, detectives took a fixed position in their unmarked unit directly across the street from the monument and began to conduct surveillance. At approximately 0125 hours, detectives observed MA REG, a dark grey Honda Accord, travel past them outbound on Reservoir Avenue with its lights off and three occupants inside. The vehicle then took a left turn onto Atlantic Avenue. A short time later, this same vehicle reappeared traveling outbound on Elmwood Avenue continuing to operate with its lights off. The vehicle proceeded to take a right onto Atlantic Avenue and then onto Reservoir Avenue, heading inbound. Minutes later at approximately 0137 hours detectives observed a male and a female subject running across Elmwood Avenue towards Columbus Square.
Both subjects appeared to be carrying unknown objects in their hands. As both suspects approached the fence line protecting the statue, they were observed by detectives launching these unknown objects towards the statue and the surrounding area. As the objects landed on the structure, detectives could clearly see paint splattering on the surface protecting the monument. Both subjects then fled across Elmwood Avenue towards Lexington Avenue. As detectives began to follow the suspects they called for assisting units to respond. Once on Lexington Avenue, detectives observed both suspects enter the rear lot of the Feinstein School heading towards Ontario Street. Detectives quickly drove to Ontario Street and caught up with both suspects as they exited the lot.
At this time, both suspects were apprehended without incident and were later identified as Derrick Garforth (34) and Charlotte Whittingham (28). Both subjects were secured in separate police vehicles and transported to central station. During the apprehensions of Garforth and Whittingham, detectives also observed the suspect vehicle slowly driving down Ontario Street towards Melrose Street. As they broadcasted this to arriving units, the vehicle quickly looped around the block and drove past police on Ontario Street. Simultaneously, an arriving marked unit stopped the vehicle without incident.
The operator of the vehicle, Mackenzie Innis (26) was removed from the vehicle and detained. While [police] were speaking with Innis, police observed in plain view an open container of white paint, several rubber gloves, a box of rubber gloves, and several masks all in the back seat area. Also in plain view in the front passenger seat was another open container of purple-colored paint. It should be noted that it was later determined by detectives that these colors were consistent with the paint colors at the original crime scene. BCI responded for photos and the seizure of all these items. Innis was placed into custody and transported to central station without incident.
Detectives responded back to Columbus Square with BCI and observed the damage to the fence as well as the structure. BCI photographed and seized items from this scene as well.
All three subjects were charged with desecration of grave/monument (11-20-2) (a felony) and conspiracy. They were arraigned at the Public Safety Complex and released.
This story was first published 6/13/20 2:51 PM