News

Actions

LDS church prophet statue found; two arrested, more on the run

Posted at 8:03 PM, May 23, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-24 22:57:13-04

SALT LAKE CITY - The 800-pound statue of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young is back where it belongs after it was stolen earlier this week.

Police said two suspects are behind bars, all of this happening in a little more than 12 hours.

Detectives said they owe it all to great security video and news tipsters willing to get involved.

Salt Lake Police tweeted a picture of one of the detectives sitting with the statue Tuesday night after it was recovered in West Jordan.

According to surveillance video, the statue was stolen at about 4 a.m. Tuesday.

This video shows four suspects taking the massive bronze sculpture of Brigham Young and Joseph Smith, putting it on a trailer and driving off from the Salt Lake art studio.

Once that video hit the news, officers said they were flooded with tips, including the one which led them to West Jordan where they found the statue.

Detectives quickly arrested one suspect and said they likely saved the sculpture from being chopped up and sold for scrap.

Police have two people in custody but so far only 47-year-old William Ford has been charged with theft.

He has an extensive criminal history which features several aliases including "Baby Boy."

Police said they are searching for two more suspects and need help identifying them. A person of interest, 52-year-old Larry Forness, is also sought.

They are looking for a man named Larry and a woman named Tracy who live near West High School in the area of 200 N.

If you know who they are or have any information about this case, Salt Lake Police would like to hear from you at (801) 799-3000.