COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Security camera footage released Tuesday showed the Brutus statue being vandalized at a sports memorabilia shop across from Ohio State's campus, with a man kicking it up and down the road -- until Brutus and another Buckeyes legend got slight revenge at the end.
The footage was made public on Tuesday by College Traditions, a store at 286 W. Lane Ave. across from St. John Arena. The statue was vandalized about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, less than a week before Ohio State's annual football game against Michigan.
A man in a sweatshirt with the hood over his head was shown kicking the statue west along Lane Avenue, as cars occasionally crossed in both directions, before kicking it again east back toward the store entrance and flipping it over with this hand. He appeared to be filming the incident with his phone.
The man then lifted the statue above his head and attempted to throw it at a statue of former Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes that's also in front of the store. But the Brutus statue ricocheted and kicked the man before falling to the ground.
The man went off-camera for several seconds before he was seen leaving by walking west down Lane Avenue. The next day, the "Dot the i" Brutus statue -- one of 30-some around Columbus of the Ohio State mascot, each uniquely decorated -- was found ripped off its pedestal at the ankles.
Columbus police have identified a 21-year-old as a suspect, although charges have yet to be filed against him. Kelly Dawes, the manager of College Traditions, called watching the video awful.
“He’s a staple at our store, and there’s literally thousands and thousands of people who come by and get their picture taken with him,” Dawes said.
It happened hours after No. 2 Ohio State defeated Indiana 38-15 in what was the third top-five matchup for the Buckeyes this season. They close the regular season Saturday at Ohio Stadium against the Wolverines, who are unranked but have won three straight in the series.
It wasn't the first time that the Brutus statue in front of College Traditions was damaged. In January 2022, it was knocked off its pedestal by a skidding car.
And for fans attending the game, they will still get to see Brutus in front of College Traditions. Kroger is loaning its Archie Griffin-decorated Brutus statue to the store for the week.
