Men Charged With Covering Fist Sculpture In Paint
Pictures Of Slain Police Officers Reportedly Found At Base Of Statue
Price's attorney, David Rosenberg, said he disagreed that the vandalism was hate speech and said he thought the men may have been trying to make a political statement. "This country has a long history of political activism," said Cashman's attorney, Marc Beginin, adding it would be wrong to put someone in jail for that. The Feb. 16 killings of Officers Jennifer Fettig and Matthew Bowens, who were white, have heightened concerns about violence in a city where 35 people were slain in January, nine more than in January 2003, and where killings have averaged about one a day this month. A black man is charged with murder in the officers' deaths. Some critics of the fist sculpture said when it was unveiled in 1986 that it was emblematic of violence in Detroit. Cashman and Price were stopped by police in the suburb of Romulus and brought back to Detroit after authorities were tipped off by a motorist.Tommie Ruffin, the owner of Class A Transportation, was driving a work van when he spotted the two men covered with white paint driving out of Detroit, according to Local 4 reports.Ruffin followed them while calling state police on his cell phone.
"I did it because I like art and I like the city of Detroit," he said.Ruffin (pictured, right) was honored for his good Samaritan act Tuesday night in Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's State of the City address.Cashman and Price are set to appear at a preliminary exam set for March 18.- February 23, 2004: Elected Official Accused Of Vandalizing Joe Louis 'Fist'
- February 23, 2004: Famous Detroit Landmark 'Fist' Vandalized
Copyright 2005 by ClickOnDetroit.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.





























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