A custom-made statue outside Cocoa Beach's Cosmik Tiki was destroyed in an early morning incident captured on surveillance video, with police seeking a suspect wanted on a felony criminal mischief charge. The 5-foot-tall spaceman statue, which stood outside the business on North Atlantic Avenue, was knocked over around 1:20 a.m. on Aug. 27. Cocoa Beach police released video showing a shirtless man grabbing the statue, shaking it violently, and toppling it onto its side. The owners estimate the damage at $15,000, and the statue is beyond repair.
Kevin Key and Noel Heik, co-owners of Cosmik Tiki, described the destruction in a statement. Heik said the suspect approached the statue, shouted, 'Hey, look at this!' and used brute force to unseat it from its concrete base. 'He rolled it around and smashed it,' Heik said. Key added the statue's hands, face, and neck were shattered beyond repair. The video also shows the suspect tearing up campaign signs near the business.
Police identified a second man as a person of interest, seen with the suspect during the incident. The primary suspect faces a felony criminal mischief charge. Authorities have not released his name or details about his possible motive. The business, a local landmark known for its space-themed decor, has been a fixture on North Atlantic Avenue for years.
Cocoa Beach police are asking for the public's help in locating the suspect. Officers said the destruction occurred during a late-night window when the business was closed. The owners said the statue was a unique piece, custom-built to represent the area's connection to space exploration. No other damage to the business was reported.
The case is under investigation, and police said they are reviewing additional footage. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Cocoa Beach Police Department. The incident has drawn attention from neighbors, who said the statue was a familiar sight on the busy stretch of North Atlantic Avenue.