Press Release - Ce Tempoxcalli - Tuesday May 3, 2011

Media contact:  Jerry Lopez (612) 388-0552 www.ce-t.org

Sacred Aztec Drum Located, Returned – Many Items Remain Missing

Members of the Twin Cities Aztec Dance Circle, Danza Mexica Cuautemoc are ecstatic as they received news yesterday that the Grandfather Drum had been located and is now home. However many items remain stolen.  In appreciation of everyone’s efforts and to welcome the drum home a public ceremony will be held.

Honoring the Drum Ceremony
Wednesday May 4, 2001 at 6:30 pm
Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center
El Rio Vista Level
179 Robie Street East
Saint Paul, MN 55107-2360

Statement:

On May 2, 2011 Jerry Lopez received a call from Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Brostrom letting him know that Lead Investigator Julie Urban had the trailer and drum.  Shortly thereafter Jerry Lopez and three danzantes (dancers) went to the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department to identify the drum and bring it home.

We are very grateful to the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department and Lead Investigator Julie Urban who worked so hard at finding the drum. We also want to express our deepest appreciation to Roseville Police Department, Saint Paul Police Officer Sgt. Paul Paulos, Twin Cities Transport & Recovery,the local media, and the hundreds of people who reached out to use over the past week.

This experience demonstrates that working collaboratively with public safety, media and good community members can and does work. This experience also provided us with a opportunity to learn about paying attention to detail, following through, and honoring our commitments to care for our sacred items.

Today, thousands of dollars in items still remain missing and although we are most grateful our drum is home, we hope that all of the remaining items are at the very least being respected in a good way, wherever they may be. 

An appreciation ceremony will be held on Wednesday May 4, 2001 at 6:30 pm at the Paul & Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building to honor the drum and its return home.  The drum will also be played at the upcoming Chalchiutlicue Environmental Summit & Ceremony on May 20-21, 2011.  Members of the public are welcome to attend all events.

Summary of Events

On November 2, 2010 Danza Mexica Cuauhtmoc parked their trailer loaded with the ceremonial drum and all the supplies from the just completed day of the dead celebration in their rented secure stall at Public Storage in Little Canada.

On November 21, 2011 Police Sgt. Matt Marshal of the Roseville Police department called in a tow order during a snow emergency on a trailer that was abandoned in the middle of the street with all doors wide open and a drum sitting in the trailer.  Twin Cities Transport & Recovery came and took the trailer to their impound lot.

Twin Cities Transport & Recovery made various attempts to contact the owner of the trailer, however the trailer had changed ownership, but due to a clerical error, the transfer of title was not completed properly and the new owner was unaware that the trailer had been stolen or that the drum was still in it.

On April 27, 2011 an employee of Public Storage contacted Jerry Lopez of Ce Tempoxcalli asking if he had the trailer.  It was determined at that time the trailer was missing.  Initially it was believed the trailer had only been missing for a few days.  No one had anticipated learning that the trailer had actually been stolen from Public Storage five months prior.

In the initial days of the investigation a tri-county alert was generated and Public Information Officer Randy Gustafson of the Ramsey County Sheriffs office sent out a press release.  As a result of the wonderful media coverage the tow truck driver recognized the drum while watching the news and called his employer, Twin Cities Transport & Recovery, to let them know that he remembered picking up the trailer with the drum inside. The owner of Twin Cities Transport & Recovery then called the Rossville Police Department who then reported this to Ramsey County Investigator Julie Urban.

On May 2, 2011 Jerry Lopez received a call from Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Brostrom letting him know that Investigator Julie Urban had the trailer and drum.  Three hours later, Jerry Lopez and three danzantes (dancers) went to the Ramsey County Sheriffs Department to identify the drum and bring it home.

If you wish to make a tax deductible donation to assist in replacing the remaining lost items, please visit www.ce-t.org 

Chalchiutlicue Environmental Summit & Ceremony on May 20-21, 2011 www.chalchiutlicue.org