A man appeared in a Seattle courtroom Tuesday on charges that he broke glass sculptures at a museum and then attacked a security guard.
Alexander Weis Taylor, 40, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of first-degree burglary, second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and first-degree malicious mischief causing more than $5,000 in damages, according to court records.
Mr. Taylor is accused of going onto the grounds of the Chihuly Garden and Glass building in Seattle on the night of March 16 to smash several plant sculptures made of glass, the Seattle Police Department said. The police did not say how Mr. Taylor was able to get in.
In total, Mr. Taylor is accused of breaking 12 glass sculptures, each worth about $20,000, for total damages of more than $240,000, according to KOMO-TV. Museum officials told the TV station that the broken pieces will be replaced in the weeks to come.
A security guard found and confronted Mr. Taylor, who proceeded to hurl “a longer piece of glass like a javelin” at the guard, who dodged, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office alleged Monday.
Prosecutors said Mr. Taylor also tried to stab the security guard repeatedly with a piece of broken glass. The guard fled and waited for police to arrive.
Seattle police said Mr. Taylor was combative and refused to comply with their orders, but that they were ultimately able to take him into custody.
Bail for Mr. Taylor is set at $100,000, according to KOMO-TV.
