An man has been charged after a bronze statue of a famed Ukrainian poet was chopped off at the feet from its pedestal and carted away from a park in Oakville, Ont.

Curtis Raae, 36, of Oakville faces charges of possessing stolen property over $5,000. He was released from custody Tuesday and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 30.

Another man was arrested but later released. No charges were laid against him.

The massive two-tonne bronze figure was a likeness of 19th-century Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko, who is credited with establishing the modern Ukrainian literary language. 

The head of the statue was recovered Tuesday at a Burlington metal recycler.

The owner told the Hamilton Spectator that he bought the head from two men who said they were disposing of it on behalf of the town of Oakville.

Instead of melting it down, the man kept it as a conversation piece — until he discovered it was stolen. He then contacted police.  

Police are still searching for the rest of the statue, and are analyzing the head for evidence. Police estimated the figure would be worth about $20,000 if sold as scrap metal.

The statue, seven metres tall including the marble pedestal and bronze figure, was erected in the Shevchenko Memorial Park in 1951 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the settlement of Ukrainians in Canada.

Visitors to the park noticed the figure was missing on Dec. 31.