L-R, Surveillance image of a suspect believed to have vandalized an ice sculpture as part of Avenue of Ice along College Avenue in Appleton, a picture of the destroyed ice sculpture, February 22, 2026. (Photos courtesy of Appleton Police Department andThe Center for Suicide Awareness)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A citation was issued against the man who damaged a sculpture along the Avenue of Ice in downtown Appleton.
Over the weekend, a man was caught on camera picking up the ice sculpture, which depicted two hands making the shape of a heart, and throwing it to the ground. The piece was sponsored by the Center for Suicide Awareness, a Kaukauna-based nonprofit, as part of the annual Avenue of Ice event on College Avenue.
After police released surveillance images of the man on social media Monday, the suspect turned himself in to the Appleton Police Department and was “cooperative with the investigation.”
In an update Wednesday, police identified the man as a 21-year-old from Appleton, but did not release his name. According to a news release, he was cited for violating the city’s damage to property ordinance, with a judgement of $389.50 handed down.
Police say it cost $425 for the Center for Suicide Awareness to have the sculpture made. It was on display for less than 24 hours before it was destroyed.
Krystal Kleer Ice Sculptures, LLC tried to restore the heart sculpture, but they were unable to fix it. Appleton Downtown, Inc. is making a donation to the CSA as a result of the incident.
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