Upper Great Lakes News, Music, and Arts & Culture

Man arrested for stealing hat from Marquette statue

Andrew LaCombe

MARQUETTE, MI--   Marquette Police have arrested a man they believe vandalized the Phil Niemisto statue downtown. 

The statue’s hat and scarf were discovered missing Saturday morning. On Thursday officers arrested Alex Wiitanen, 20, of Marquette for malicious destruction of tombs and memorials less than $200 and larceny less than $200.

Both the hat and scarf have been recovered.

Wiitanen was released from jail after posting a $500 bond. 

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Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.