Stolen dragon statue found in basement closet
EUGENE, Ore. -- Investigators located the dragon statue stolen from the roof of Monroe High School in December in a locked room in a Eugene man's basement, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies learned of the possible location of the school mascot on Saturday and contacted John Lawrence Crymes, 23, who denied any knowledge about the dragon, according to the sheriff's office.
Deputies continued their investigation and gathered enough evidence to arrest Crymes on suspicion of theft. Crymes later led deputies to the dragon, locked in a basement closet in his Polk Street home in Eugene, Ore., according to the sheriff.
The statue weighs about 200 pounds and is about 4 feet tall. It was located on top of a very steep pitched roof. In December, school officials said the mystery is as much how it was taken as who took it.
Deputies planned to return the statue to Monroe High School Tuesday at 3 p.m.
Deputies also charged Crymes with hindering prosecution in addition to theft.
