Bison sculpture created by Native American students stolen from Pueblo hotel; recovered on Monday
UPDATE: The Pueblo Police Department says the trailer and bison were recovered in the 1900 block of North Hudson Avenue and they appear to be undamaged.
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) - A bison sculpture created by Native American students in Colorado was stolen from a Pueblo hotel parking lot over the weekend, and police are asking for the public's help finding it.
The Pueblo Police Department said a homemade trailer containing the large metal bison sculpture was stolen from the parking lot of the SpringHill Suites at 170 S. Santa Fe Ave.
Police said an officer responded to the hotel around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, after the theft was reported.
According to police, surveillance video shows a white four-door, short-bed pickup entering the hotel parking lot around 3:38 a.m. A short time later, the truck is seen leaving the parking lot with the trailer attached.
Police released photos of the stolen sculpture, trailer and pickup truck.
The homemade trailer is described as black with a passenger-side access panel painted red. It also has two pink ladder hooks on the side.
Officials say Native American students in Colorado created the sculpture, and it was on a small tour around the state. It was supposed to be displayed at the El Pueblo History Museum in Pueblo this weekend.
The group behind the sculpture said it represents the near-extinction of the bison population and its recovery in recent decades.
Scott Gilmore, a Native American advocate involved with the project, said the sculpture's message of resilience remains important even after the theft.
"They are resilient and the message doesn't stop," Gilmore said. "If anything, this helps get the message out even more."
The students still presented the story and meaning behind the sculpture to the community Saturday, despite the sculpture itself being missing.
Gilmore said the students understand that setbacks happen and are prepared to recreate the sculpture if necessary.
"If we have to recreate it, that's what we are gonna do," Gilmore said.
At about 3 p.m. on Monday, Gillmore received a phone call from authorities that the trailer with the Bison sculpture had been found at a parking lot at 1904 N Hudson Ave.
Gillmore found the sculpture still fully intact with the lock still on the trailer. The bison sculpture will be on display at the áyA Con festival at the National Western Center in Denver on Friday.
The Pueblo Police department are still actively looking for the driver in the white pickup truck identified in security footage.
Anyone with information about suspect is asked to contact the Pueblo Police Department at 719-553-2502 or Crime Stoppers at 719-542-STOP (7867).
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