BECKLEY W.Va. (Hinton News) – Recently, a mountaineer statue was reported missing from Tamarack Marketplace in Beckley. The West Virginia State Police were able to recover the statue and have subsequently released the following statement:
“In a joint effort between the West Virginia State Police and the on-site security team at Tamarack Marketplace, a stolen Mountaineer statue was successfully recovered in pristine condition, marking a significant victory against theft in the local community.
“On Monday, Feb. 26, Tamarack Marketplace, a hub for arts and culture in Beckley, WV, reported the theft of a prominent bronze Mountaineer statue created by West Virginia artist, Burl Jones, symbolizing West Virginia’s rugged spirit and heritage. The incident prompted immediate action from the marketplace’s security team, who collaborated closely with the West Virginia State Police Troop 7 Parkways to initiate a comprehensive investigative initiative.
“After only a few days, the diligent efforts proved successful in locating and recovering the stolen Mountaineer statue. The recovery operation culminated on Thursday, Feb. 29, as WV State Police, Troop 7 Troopers, secured the statue in mint condition and arrested 53-year-old Billy Paul Brown of Pax, West Virginia and charged the same with one (1) count of Grand Larceny.
“‘We are delighted to announce the safe recovery of the stolen Mountaineer statue,’ said Tammy Coffman, executive director at Tamarack Marketplace. ‘The collaborative efforts between our on-site security team and the West Virginia State Troopers have demonstrated the effectiveness of proactive and cooperative measures in safeguarding our cultural assets.’
“We commend the dedication and professionalism of the West Virginia State Troopers for their swift and successful efforts in resolving this matter,” West Virginia State Police, Captain J. S. McCarty of Troop 7 added. “This collaborative achievement reinforces the importance of community engagement and cooperation in maintaining the security and integrity of our shared cultural treasures. From the very beginning of the investigation, the Troopers assigned made it their mission to bring the Mountaineer Statue back home.”
