Stolen $100,000.00 Harley statue mystery solved - The culprit will surprise you
The mystery of the $100,000 statue missing from a financially troubled Lindon motorcycle shop has been solved. The plot, however, has only thickened.
Lindon Police Chief Cody Cullimore said Tuesday that the 4-ton metal statue, entitled "Land Speed," apparently was removed from the Timpanogos Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership's property over the New Year's weekend. At first, it was thought to have been stolen.
However, police located the artwork at the Springville home of its artist creator, Jeff Decker. He claims ownership of the sculpture.
"The statue has been located. It is in the possession of the artist who created it. This appears to be a civil situation in that the artist has provided us with a 'loan agreement' in which he agrees that Timp Harley can display the statue but that it remained his," Cullimore said.
The problem: Timp Harley has filed documents in federal bankruptcy court listing the sculpture as a business asset.
"The wild card is the granite block that the motorcycle is attached to. I believe that everyone understands it to be the property of Dave Tuomisto, the previous owner of [Timp Harley]. It is still, to my knowledge, attached to the statue as the artist tries to figure out how to separate the two without damaging anything," Cullimore said.
The chief said he intends to run the matter past city prosecutors, but doubts charges will be filed. "This sounds like one for the courts to iron out,"
Cullimore said.
Calls to Decker's Springville residence were referred to his Provo attorney, Randall Spencer. He was not available Tuesday afternoon and did not return a call seeking comment.
Efforts to reach Tuomisto were unsuccessful Tuesday.
Source: Stolen $100,000.00 Harley statue mystery solved - The culprit will surprise you
Lindon Police Chief Cody Cullimore said Tuesday that the 4-ton metal statue, entitled "Land Speed," apparently was removed from the Timpanogos Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership's property over the New Year's weekend. At first, it was thought to have been stolen.
However, police located the artwork at the Springville home of its artist creator, Jeff Decker. He claims ownership of the sculpture.
"The statue has been located. It is in the possession of the artist who created it. This appears to be a civil situation in that the artist has provided us with a 'loan agreement' in which he agrees that Timp Harley can display the statue but that it remained his," Cullimore said.
The problem: Timp Harley has filed documents in federal bankruptcy court listing the sculpture as a business asset.
"The wild card is the granite block that the motorcycle is attached to. I believe that everyone understands it to be the property of Dave Tuomisto, the previous owner of [Timp Harley]. It is still, to my knowledge, attached to the statue as the artist tries to figure out how to separate the two without damaging anything," Cullimore said.
The chief said he intends to run the matter past city prosecutors, but doubts charges will be filed. "This sounds like one for the courts to iron out,"
Cullimore said.
Calls to Decker's Springville residence were referred to his Provo attorney, Randall Spencer. He was not available Tuesday afternoon and did not return a call seeking comment.
Efforts to reach Tuomisto were unsuccessful Tuesday.
Source: Stolen $100,000.00 Harley statue mystery solved - The culprit will surprise you
