THE DENVER ART MUSEUM SUFFERS $1.9M IN DAMAGE

Artifacts damaged in spree at Denver museum were worth at least $1.9 million

Suspect is accused of vandalizing centuries-old artifacts.

A representative of the Denver Art Museum told police the facility suffered nearly $2 million in losses following the vandalism spree last month in which a suspect is accused of damaging centuries-old artifacts from China and the Mayan civilization.

Museum officials said Monday they’re still working to determine total damages after the December incident. Staffers at the museum had not publicly attached a dollar figure to the vandalism.

Denver police arrested Jake Siebenlist, 18, on suspicion of felony criminal mischief in the amount of $1 million or more on Dec. 9. Siebenlist appeared briefly in court Monday, and is scheduled to be arraigned on the charge March 14, according to Denver District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Carolyn Tyler.

Siebenlist reportedly pushed and shattered a glass structure, threw sculptures across a room and shattered artwork onto the ground in the museum’s “Stampede: Animals in Art” exhibit, according to a probable cause statement prepared by Denver police.

He also allegedly shoved museum patrons out of his way and tried to punch security officers who restrained him until police arrived. He was then transported to Denver Health Medical Center for minor injuries.

Among the damaged items were a rare Mayan vessel and a 19th-century Chinese vase.

The probable cause statement details damages and destruction to 10 items, estimated at about $1.93 million by a museum employee. The employee told police further evaluations likely would increase that amount, according to the document.

The Denver police document listed the damaged items as: Wolf Headdress Mask, Raven Rattle Tlingit, Jaina Style Figurine, Moche Portrait Bottle, Chinese Vase with Phoenixes, Moche Rattle Bowl, Mayan Fish-Shaped Vessel, Maya Vessel with God on Bird, Chinese Initiator Sculpture and Beware of Cranes Sculpture.

Museum spokeswoman Jena Pruett said Monday that the costs of the damages from the incident are still being evaluated as the museum works to repair some of the artwork, and she would not comment on estimated costs.

“Affected objects are being evaluated by the Denver Art Museum’s art conservation staff, and specifics about repairs are not yet available,” she said in an emailed statement.

The museum’s fourth-floor galleries are all open, including the gallery that was damaged, now with reinstalled digital work from “Three Love Songs from the Bottom of the Ocean,” by Matthew Weinstein, according to museum officials.