Police arrested a Madison man Monday after he drunkenly knocked over the Orpheum Theatre's $50,000 antique water fountain statue while ""blacked out"" Sunday night.
Police said an Orpheum staff member grabbed Nikalas Gunkel, 20, after witnessing him knock over the statue.
Gunkel was then temporarily detained by security, but broke free and fled before officers arrivied at the scene.
According to a police incident report, security was able to take Gunkel's driver's license and another identification card before he fled.
""Officers were unable to locate the suspect initially, but asked one of his roommates to have [Gunkel] call,"" Madison Police Department Joel DeSpain said in a statement.
Police said Gunkel contacted the MPD Monday night and said he was ""very sorry"" for the damage and that he did not remember pushing the fountain because he had ""blacked out"" from drinking.
According to police, a theater manager said the carved porcelain fountain, which is located near the lower level bathrooms, is part of the theatre's original French Renaissance interior that dates back to 1926 when the Orpheum first opened.
