Sasquatch cutout recovered in school prank

An 8-foot tall Sasquatch taken from a downtown Spokane retail store was recovered this week at Medical Lake High School. The cutout steel sculpture was taken from Roost home décor store, 7 W. Main St., overnight on Tuesday, said co-owner Joy Arch. She said the theft appeared to be some kind of prank, but now she is left with the heavy job of retrieving the sculpture from Medical Lake’s police department. It’s going to take a large truck and at least three strong people to lift and load the art work for its return, Arch said. The statue was cut from a thick sheet of steel by her husband, Matt Arch, who used a plasma torch for the job. He installed the piece about a year ago against the outer wall of the business adjacent to Division Street. He secured it with bolts and chains. Sasquatch had become something of a landmark, drawing attention from tourists and regulars in the neighborhood. The sculpture had sported a witch’s hat last Halloween among other holiday decorations, she said. Arch said that the thieves must have planned the heist and moved quickly, possibly loading the art into a covered van for the getaway. “It was thought-out,” said Arch, who specializes in shabby chic decorations and antiques. “I’m glad he’s returned,” she said. “He’s kind of a fixture.”