Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
St. Paul News
MPR News Staff

Stolen F. Scott Fitzgerald statue recovered in pieces in St. Paul; suspect charged

remains of scott fitzgerald
St. Paul police announced Friday that they arrested a man in connection with the theft of a statue of the author F. Scott Fitzgerald earlier in the month. Authorities say the statue was cut into pieces, and that the suspect tried to sell them to a metal recycler.
Courtesy of St. Paul police

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

St. Paul police on Friday announced the arrest of a man in connection with the theft of a statue of the author F. Scott Fitzgerald earlier in the month.

Authorities allege that 37-year-old Dustan Charles Schmitt of St. Paul attempted to sell the bronze statue — which had been cut up into pieces — at a metal recycling business, which in turn contacted authorities. And they said Schmitt is linked to the theft of other metal objects from a St. Paul church.

Schmitt is charged with one felony count of receiving stolen property.

statue of someone sitting
A statue of author F. Scott Fitzgerald is shown in January 2009 where it once was on display, outside the old St. Paul Academy. The statue was stolen and cut into pieces this month.
Jim Mone | AP file

According to police and court documents, the Fitzgerald statue — estimated to weigh up to 150 pounds, with an estimated replacement value of $25,000 — was cut from its base and stolen between Feb. 3 and Feb. 7. It had been on display outside the former St. Paul Academy building on North Dale Street for nearly 20 years. Fitzgerald was a student there in his early years in St. Paul.

On Tuesday, an employee at Northern Metal Recycling in St. Paul contacted police to report that a man had tried to sell pieces of the statue. The employee was able to hold on to some of the pieces, and get a license plate number, before the man fled. Authorities also recovered a metal plaque and bird that had been reported missing from Unity Church in St. Paul last month.

Authorities on Thursday executed a search warrant at Schmitt’s home on St. Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood, and recovered a propane tank, blowtorch and torch heads. Schmitt was arrested without incident.

remains scott fitzgerald
Pieces of the Fitzgerald statue are seen after being recovered at a metal recycling business, after a man attempted to sell them.
Courtesy of St. Paul police

“We want to thank Northern Metal Recycling for their vigilance and commitment to upholding the new state law which requires anyone looking to sell scrap metal copper worth more than $25 to first obtain a license,” St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry said in a statement.

“I also want to commend the Northern Metal Recycling employee whose intuition helped us recover what’s left of this sentimental piece of St. Paul history, while also likely preventing additional metal thefts from happening in our community.”

Police said some pieces of the statue are still missing. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call St. Paul police at (651) 291-1111.