Dallas police released him Dallas Morning News Photos of the scene at the Dallas Museum of Art last June, when a man allegedly entered the building and caused extensive damage to the property, including several works of art.
The photos provide a glimpse of the extent of the damage to three ancient Greek artifacts housed on the second floor of the museum and a contemporary piece included in the Native American art exhibit. Police released hundreds of photos in response to a public records request.
A third-party review of the security measures the museum initiated after the incident is still ongoing. DMA officials plan to share details of the review next month.
“The DMA has received tremendous support from the City of Dallas, the Dallas Police Department, Dallas City Councilman Paul Ridley, museum members and fans, and the arts community,” the museum said Thursday. “The DMA is committed to protecting the art in our care and has already made some significant changes to security. We continue to work closely with the security experts at Chameleon Associates and the City of Dallas to make other important improvements.” .
The DMA said the conservation treatment of the wreckage is underway and is scheduled to be completed by July. Among them, an amphora, a small box and a drinking vessel dating from the 5th and 6th centuries BC, a contemporary piece, a picture bottle by Kado artist Chase Cahoon Huth Earles, was acquired by the museum in 2020.
Brian Hernandez, 21, was arrested at the museum on June 1 and charged with criminal mischief of $300,000 or more, a first-degree felony. He was charged Aug. 18 and remains in the Dallas County Jail, awaiting his next court appearance. His lawyer declined to comment.
Records of 911 calls obtained by the news It was revealed in November that Hernandez spent more than 15 minutes on three floors of the museum before security realized a robbery was in progress. Only after Hernandez called police from the museum’s phone did DMA security guards become aware of his presence, the calls showed.
Police said Hernandez approached the building’s glass door with a metal chair before entering at about 9:46 p.m.
later the newsLast year, the DMA took some responsibility at City Hall, saying in a statement, “As a city-owned and operated facility, close collaboration and support with the City of Dallas is vital to our success.”
“We will do everything in our power to prevent a similar situation and look forward to working closely with the City of Dallas regarding deferred maintenance and other operational issues with our facilities,” the museum said.
More than 7,000 works of art are owned by the city in the care of the DMA. The museum’s entire collection is 25,000. Pieces damaged during the demolition, one of which is owned by the city.
