Traffic stop leads to Tuskegee hero’s bust

Back in April, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Daniel Lopez pulled over 24-year-old Brian Sawyer for a minor traffic violation. Sawyer’s lack of a driver license led to a search of his vehicle which turned up methamphetamine, heroin, a loaded handgun and ammunition. That led to a search of his home – that led to more weapons and drugs as well a bust of Colonel Ralph Smith of the Tuskegee Airmen which had been missing since 2003;

Deputy Lopez discovered Smith lived in Moreno Valley and contacted him, according to the release. The colonel told Lopez the bust was sculpted by California artist Don Winton, who gave it to him in 2003.

Furthermore, Smith said, the Smithsonian Institution had requested to display the sculpture one of its museums, but the piece of art went missing 14 years ago after Smith’s wife died and a rummage sale was held at his house. Smith thought he would never see it again, he told Lopez.

“They never would tell me, even when I went to court several times, what happened to it,” Smith said.

But on Sunday afternoon, the colonel was reunited with the sculpture.

From NBC Los Angeles;

Sawyer was arrested and booked into the West Valley Detention Center on charges of possessing drugs, firearms and stolen property. His bail was set at $50,000. Sawyer posted a bail bond Sunday and is currently out of custody.

Smith said he’ll be attending the court proceedings for Sawyer to see if he can figure out where the statue has been for the past 14 years.