[mattduke]

More on this developing story.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'H')amlin Associates, the construction company whose barrels were turned into a monster, doesn't want to press charges.

"We've had a fair amount of vandalism, but never anyone turn it into art," Company President Steven Hussey said. "I actually thought it was pretty neat."

Hussey said the value of the publicity his company has received is well above the $365 cost of the traffic barrels that Carnevale used.

"It's been positive publicity for us," he said. "If we'd known he'd do that good of a work, we'd have given him the barrels."

Carnevale said he's weighing Hussey's offer to reconstruct the monster for the company's offices in Climax, N.C., possibly for pay. Meanwhile, at least three Facebook support groups have formed to support Carnevale, including "Don't Charge Joseph Carnevale," boasting more than 800 members.

Raleigh police spokeswoman Laura Hourigan said the charges won't be dropped, despite the company's stance.

"The police department obviously has a job to do," she said. "And if someone is going to destroy property, we're going to take care of that situation."

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mattduke', '[')b]"The police department obviously has a job to do," she said. "And if someone is going to destroy property, we're going to take care of that situation."

[jasonraymondson]

He did commit a crime, and to let him off sets a bad example for all.

[Ayoob]

Pretty good sculpture