GREENFIELD — A Greenfield man has pleaded not guilty on three charges, including a charge of operating under the influence, after his arrest for allegedly hitting the “Honey Glow” bee sculpture in front of the Mohawk Mall on Main Street on Thursday night.
According to Police Chief Todd Dodge, officers were dispatched to Main Street near the intersection with Conway Street at 11:07 p.m. after Matthew Garcia, 38, of Greenfield, allegedly drove his white 2010 Chevrolet Colorado over the curb and struck the bee statue.
Garcia was arraigned in Greenfield District Court on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of operating under the influence, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and negligent operation of a vehicle, according to court documents. He was released on personal recognizance.
Dodge said Garcia reportedly told firefighters who had responded to the crash that he was not the driver. However, witnesses across the street identified Garcia as the driver and the scent of alcohol was detected on his breath.
“Witnesses saw him exit the truck and identified him as the operator,” Dodge said.
According to Dodge, Garcia also struck a utility pole when he crashed. He allegedly removed the license plates from his truck and threw them into the nearby bushes before deciding to pick them up and put them in the bed of the truck, the chief described.
Dodge said there was no indication of there being any passengers in the vehicle, and Garcia denied sustaining any injuries in the crash.
The “Honey Glow” statue was unveiled in 2021. Painted by artist Sarah Adams and sculpted by Rachael Katz, the bee was designed to represent the shapes and colors of autumn and honeycombs, Katz said.
Upon being told about the damaged bee statue on Friday, Katz said in a phone interview that it was disappointing to hear, but that when working on projects in public spaces, it is necessary to be prepared for the possibility of something like this happening.
“It’s disappointing when something happens, but the nature of the project is that it’s outside in the public,” Katz said. “At the end of the day, it’s a piece of art and it can be repaired or replaced.”
She said the first step will be disassembling the bee and bringing it back to her studio.
“We have to assess the damage first,” Katz said. “In addition to aesthetic concerns, we have to look at the structural integrity.”
This is not the first time a bee statue had been damaged by a vehicle. Katz said that in 2024, a delivery van backed into the bee in front of the Garden Cinemas, causing a crack in its wing that needed to be repaired. Additionally, in 2021, vandals struck “The Celtic Bee” near Miles Street, which was replaced this past summer.
Greenfield has numerous bee sculptures around the city and an annual Bee Fest, inspired by the city’s history. The Rev. Lorenzo Langstroth, considered to be the “father of modern beekeeping,” was the sixth pastor of the Second Congregational Church of Greenfield. He invented the movable frame beehive.
The Greenfield Police Department urges drivers to drive responsibly and to call a friend, rideshare service or even the department if they are unable to get home safely.
“We are very opposed to anyone operating under the influence,” Dodge said. “Call somebody for a ride, even if it’s us.”
