ORLANDO, Fla. – A bizarre case of vandalism occured. The target -- a pink bunny.
On their nightly walk around Lake Como, neighbors found something upsetting. Sometime this week, vandals picked the small 2-foot statue, tucked away off the road, and smashed off chunks of concrete.
But it's not just any pink bunny statue.
"A lot of people pose by it, especially with their dogs," said Roxanne Neal. "Pretty sad. It's kind of a thing in the community, if you will, a lot of people have grown attached to it."
The "Pink Bunny" has become iconic.
It went up in memory of Chase Smith, a city worker who for years played easter bunny for kids in the neighborhood. He died suddenly two years ago.
Now this crime has happened just days from the anniversary of his death.
"The bottom line is, he was special to the city and this was something special that he did for these kids," said Commissioner Patty Sheehan, who collected private donations to honor her assistant in a way she thought was fitting.
But the statue has not always been welcome. It gained local fame and infamy. Some in the neighborhood want it removed, while others consider it a quirky attraction.
"They were a little upset when it was placed without our knowledge," said another neighbor. "I think it's nice. I don't mind memorials for people who have passed away who have helped our community."
"The controversy has actually brought a lot of attention to him, and unfortunately, some negative attention," said Sheehan. "To the dirtbag who did this, just leave things alone. Why destroy something that's beautiful that means something to people?"
Sheehan said there are enough of the original private donations left over to replace the statue, however she could not give a time frame.