Officials from Grand Canyon National Park are looking for a man they say broke a headpiece created by an indigenous artist that was on display.
On June 17, the suspect was inside the Arizona park’s Desert View Watchtower. At some point between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., he climbed onto handcrafted furniture to try to take a photo and fell as the furniture tipped. He knocked the headpiece off the wall while trying to steady himself, park officials said Wednesday.
The piece, created in the 1930s by late Hopi artisan Fred Kabotie, hit the floor and broke into multiple pieces, officials said.
After the fall, park staff gave the man first aid, and he left the watchtower shortly afterward with a woman officials believe to be his daughter.
Officials described the suspect as a clean-shaven White man in his 60s or 70s, about 6 feet tall, with gray or white hair. The woman with him is described as a White woman in her late 30s or 40s, about 5-feet-5 with an “average build” and dark hair.
Witnesses, people who recognize the suspects or anyone with information are asked to contact Grand Canyon National Park law enforcement by email.
“Desert View Watchtower is one of Grand Canyon National Park’s most significant historic and cultural spaces. Visitors are reminded not to climb, sit or stand on historic furnishings, railings, walls or other protected features. These actions can damage irreplaceable park resources and create safety hazards for visitors and staff,” officials said.
