(Above) A life-size statue of a Chicago police horse before it was damaged on Saturday. Photo by Peter Bella. (Click on images to view larger versions.)

October 13, 2014 – One of the 29 life-size statues on Michigan Avenue of Chicago police horses was damaged after a 25-year-old man from the city’s west side climbed onto it Saturday evening.

Darius Moss (left), who lives in the 2300 block of West Jackson Boulevard, west of the Loop, has been charged with three felony counts of criminal damage to property.

The incident happened at about 11:05 p.m. on Saturday in front of 500 North Michigan Avenue, according to Chicago Police Department. Moss was in bond court on Monday.

Tributes to Chicago police officers who have been killed or severely injured on duty, the horses have been unveiled throughout downtown after being introduced on September 11. The Michigan Avenue horses appeared on October 8.

The fiberglass statues are decorated by artists and sponsored by local businesses. Each horse is named after a fallen police officer.

The horse damaged on Saturday was designed by Rich Greiwe and is sponsored by The Drake Hotel. It honors police officer Lieutenant Pat McGann, who died on July 13, 1977, when he suffered a heart attack and crashed his patrol car southwest of the Loop at 59th & California.

They will be on display in downtown Chicago through November, then sold at auction to benefit Chicago Police Memorial, a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring fallen police officers.

 Website: Horses of Honor